KATHMANDU: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) might announce a global tender under the engine exchange concept to recover the engines of its three grounded Twin Otter aircraft.
Nepal Airlines Corporation, at present, has sent the engines of the three Twin Otters to a French company.
However, to start the operation of the Twin Otters promptly it is planning to go ahead with the engine exchange concept.
“By adopting the engine exchange concept, we will be able to get a temporary engine to operate the Twin Otters and after the original engine has been repaired, it can be again exchanged with the temporary engine,” said Nepal Airlines Corporation spokesperson Saroj Kasaju.
“We are looking forward to an exchange concept so that we can work quickly and we will also have a few alternatives along with the existing company,” he said.
Among the seven Twin Otters, Nepal Airlines Corporation has given two for charter flights, and three have been grounded due to engine problems. It has only two Twin Otters for its domestic market.
“We are planning to increase our domestic flights and for this we will need to operate all the five Twin Otters soon, after the engines of the three Twin Otters are repaired,” said Kasaju.
According to him, with additional aircraft, the Nepal Airlines Corporation will also increase its flight frequency to 40 daily to Lukla, Pokhara, Jomsom, Jumla, Humla and most of the mountain region, which has very low air connectivity.
Currently, the flights stand at five flights in an average daily.
At present, Nepal Airlines Corporation with two old Twin Otters operates five domestic flights a day and has two aging Boeings for its international flight schedule.
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com
November 9, 2012
United States, Guyana suspend Ezjet airline
Ezjet airline's
operations have been suspended by the United States Department of
Transportation (DoT) because the carrier owes huge sums to the aircraft
lease company resulting in a number of flight cancellations, officials
here said.
“We understand that the genesis of the action by the US Department of Transport resides with actions, requests made via their aircraft provider, Swift Air, with respect to being up-to-speed as it were with respect to payments,” Aviation Minister, Robeson Benn told a news conference.
Benn could not say how much money Ezjet owes Swift Air and over what period . He added that Guyanese authorities were seeking further details about the “unfolding” situation facing the carrier and passengers.
Well-placed aviation industry sources say that the airline has been suspending flights at short notice in recent weeks, with three cancellations alone for this week.
Benn said DoT suspended the airline's operations on Thursday and Guyanese authorities learnt of the move on Friday. Since then, according to Benn, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has suspended Ezjet's scheduled air services on the Georgetown-New York, Georgetown-Toronto and Georgetown routes.
He explained that the GCAA’s suspension of the license is “designed to protect as much as possible any action which would see further ticket sales happening which would impair or hurt people going forward.”
Benn said government was disappointed about Ezjet's misfortunes coming soon after the collapse of regional low-cost carrier, RedJet. "We are unhappy and disappointed that our efforts to bring low-cost aircraft operators into a more competitive environment in our international travel arrangements are for the moment not turning out in the way we expect," he told a news conference.
He said Commerce Minister, Irfaan Ali has been tasked with exploring “relief or assistance” to affected passengers. Ezjet’s Acting CEO, Rosalinda Rasool is expected to provide Guyanese authorities with a precise number of affected passengers based on forward ticket-sales for promotions and passenger movements.
Ezjet, like other airlines, are required to make a US200,000 deposit that could be used to bail out passengers stranded here.
Whether Ezjet’s license would be cancelled, he said, would depend on whether the carrier can resolve its financial difficulties in the coming days.
The suspension of the carrier comes less than one month after its Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Sonny Ramdeo was sued by a hospital chain for allegedly embezzling more than US$5 million into Ezjet.
Ramdeo has since stepped down as CEO of the airline and Rasool named as his acting successor.
Crediting Ezjet with a dramatic impact on the cost of travel, overall improvement in service and an increase in the number of visitors, Benn expected that market forces would impact on the service being provided by other international and regional airlines. “We will have to now work hard again to see to what extent the usual providers would be able to hold their current fares and also to see whether we are still attractive to low cost providers,” he said.
The Aviation Minister said the suspension of Ezjet’s operations “may be a blow to many persons who were hoping to come here for the season so we will reexamine the issue and see what response the market place could have for the peak season coming in.”
http://www.demerarawaves.com
“We understand that the genesis of the action by the US Department of Transport resides with actions, requests made via their aircraft provider, Swift Air, with respect to being up-to-speed as it were with respect to payments,” Aviation Minister, Robeson Benn told a news conference.
Benn could not say how much money Ezjet owes Swift Air and over what period . He added that Guyanese authorities were seeking further details about the “unfolding” situation facing the carrier and passengers.
Well-placed aviation industry sources say that the airline has been suspending flights at short notice in recent weeks, with three cancellations alone for this week.
Benn said DoT suspended the airline's operations on Thursday and Guyanese authorities learnt of the move on Friday. Since then, according to Benn, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has suspended Ezjet's scheduled air services on the Georgetown-New York, Georgetown-Toronto and Georgetown routes.
He explained that the GCAA’s suspension of the license is “designed to protect as much as possible any action which would see further ticket sales happening which would impair or hurt people going forward.”
Benn said government was disappointed about Ezjet's misfortunes coming soon after the collapse of regional low-cost carrier, RedJet. "We are unhappy and disappointed that our efforts to bring low-cost aircraft operators into a more competitive environment in our international travel arrangements are for the moment not turning out in the way we expect," he told a news conference.
He said Commerce Minister, Irfaan Ali has been tasked with exploring “relief or assistance” to affected passengers. Ezjet’s Acting CEO, Rosalinda Rasool is expected to provide Guyanese authorities with a precise number of affected passengers based on forward ticket-sales for promotions and passenger movements.
Ezjet, like other airlines, are required to make a US200,000 deposit that could be used to bail out passengers stranded here.
Whether Ezjet’s license would be cancelled, he said, would depend on whether the carrier can resolve its financial difficulties in the coming days.
The suspension of the carrier comes less than one month after its Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Sonny Ramdeo was sued by a hospital chain for allegedly embezzling more than US$5 million into Ezjet.
Ramdeo has since stepped down as CEO of the airline and Rasool named as his acting successor.
Crediting Ezjet with a dramatic impact on the cost of travel, overall improvement in service and an increase in the number of visitors, Benn expected that market forces would impact on the service being provided by other international and regional airlines. “We will have to now work hard again to see to what extent the usual providers would be able to hold their current fares and also to see whether we are still attractive to low cost providers,” he said.
The Aviation Minister said the suspension of Ezjet’s operations “may be a blow to many persons who were hoping to come here for the season so we will reexamine the issue and see what response the market place could have for the peak season coming in.”
http://www.demerarawaves.com
Busy 4pm for Dunedin International Airport, New Zealand
Several flights
rescheduled for the same time will cause a "4 o'clock swell" at Dunedin
International Airport, so travellers are advised to check in early on
summer afternoons.
Airport operations manager Richard Roberts said rescheduled international and domestic flights would put extra pressure on services and space in the airport at 4pm, which he referred to as "the 4 o'clock swell".
The airport terminal was designed to handle 320 people an hour, but from next Thursday more than 505 were expected at 4pm, he said.
The pressure would continue as an extra flight from Brisbane arrived and four domestic flights remained scheduled to arrive within 25 minutes of each other, he said.
The number of flights was the same as last year but the schedules had been aligned, he said.
The passenger swell would occur six days a week but the most pressure would be on Thursdays and Sundays, he said.
Airport chief executive John McCall said flight scheduling was a huge logistical exercise and flight schedules were difficult to change.
The airport terminal capacity of 320 people could be exceeded but then the service level would deteriorate, he said.
Terminal expansion was not economically feasible to meet the extra demand for just one hour a day , he said.
"It would cost millions of dollars ... it's a balancing act between putting in capital and getting productive use out."
However, some existing airport staff would be given extra hours of work to cope with demand, he said.
He recommended outbound passengers check in earlier than their airline recommended to ensure they got through security screening in time.
"You should not leave it to the last minute because there will be more people."
Airport cafes would be under more pressure but would cope, he said.
The extra pressure on car parking would be alleviated by the installation of automatic pay stations inside the terminal so people could pay for car parking before they left the terminal, he said.
More car park exits would make exiting easier, he said.
If the conference rooms were not in use during the busy period, passengers could sit there, he said.
Each airline had scheduled its flights to meet its own needs and the airport had to respond and deliver services to meet those needs, he said.
"With extra resources and with public awareness and understanding, the airport will effectively manage the ebb and flow of the 4 o'clock swell."
http://www.odt.co.nz
Airport operations manager Richard Roberts said rescheduled international and domestic flights would put extra pressure on services and space in the airport at 4pm, which he referred to as "the 4 o'clock swell".
The airport terminal was designed to handle 320 people an hour, but from next Thursday more than 505 were expected at 4pm, he said.
The pressure would continue as an extra flight from Brisbane arrived and four domestic flights remained scheduled to arrive within 25 minutes of each other, he said.
The number of flights was the same as last year but the schedules had been aligned, he said.
The passenger swell would occur six days a week but the most pressure would be on Thursdays and Sundays, he said.
Airport chief executive John McCall said flight scheduling was a huge logistical exercise and flight schedules were difficult to change.
The airport terminal capacity of 320 people could be exceeded but then the service level would deteriorate, he said.
Terminal expansion was not economically feasible to meet the extra demand for just one hour a day , he said.
"It would cost millions of dollars ... it's a balancing act between putting in capital and getting productive use out."
However, some existing airport staff would be given extra hours of work to cope with demand, he said.
He recommended outbound passengers check in earlier than their airline recommended to ensure they got through security screening in time.
"You should not leave it to the last minute because there will be more people."
Airport cafes would be under more pressure but would cope, he said.
The extra pressure on car parking would be alleviated by the installation of automatic pay stations inside the terminal so people could pay for car parking before they left the terminal, he said.
More car park exits would make exiting easier, he said.
If the conference rooms were not in use during the busy period, passengers could sit there, he said.
Each airline had scheduled its flights to meet its own needs and the airport had to respond and deliver services to meet those needs, he said.
"With extra resources and with public awareness and understanding, the airport will effectively manage the ebb and flow of the 4 o'clock swell."
http://www.odt.co.nz
Asia Pacific aviation leaders urged to focus on airport, air traffic management infrastructure
KUALA LUMPUR: The
International Air Transport Association (IATA) urged Asia-Pacific
aviation leaders to focus on airport and air traffic management
infrastructure as the region’s demand for connectivity continues to
grow.
Its director general and chief executive officer Tony Tyler said ensuring the timely development of sufficient and cost-efficient infrastructure was a priority for the continued successful growth of air transport in Asia Pacific.
He was speaking to delegates at the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) Assembly of presidents in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
“I am not advocating for or against private participation.
“But there have been enough mistakes made when engaging the private sector in airport development.
“These should not be repeated.When governments work with private investors to develop infrastructure, they must establish an effective economic and service-level regulatory framework to ensure that national interest is well protected,” Tyler said.
IATA urged cross-border regional thinking for the development of Asia Pacific Air Traffic Management.
“The Seamless Asian Sky initiative is helping to define the way forward by harmonising procedures and interoperable technology between states, bearing in mind it needs to be cost-efficient at the same time,” he said. — Bernama
http://www.theborneopost.com
Its director general and chief executive officer Tony Tyler said ensuring the timely development of sufficient and cost-efficient infrastructure was a priority for the continued successful growth of air transport in Asia Pacific.
He was speaking to delegates at the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) Assembly of presidents in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
“I am not advocating for or against private participation.
“But there have been enough mistakes made when engaging the private sector in airport development.
“These should not be repeated.When governments work with private investors to develop infrastructure, they must establish an effective economic and service-level regulatory framework to ensure that national interest is well protected,” Tyler said.
IATA urged cross-border regional thinking for the development of Asia Pacific Air Traffic Management.
“The Seamless Asian Sky initiative is helping to define the way forward by harmonising procedures and interoperable technology between states, bearing in mind it needs to be cost-efficient at the same time,” he said. — Bernama
http://www.theborneopost.com
‘Amazing’ Gulf airlines
Gulf airlines, growing
at an “amazing” pace, have been driving the Middle East’s traffic
growth to double digits, according to the International Air Transport
Association, or Iata.
The Middle East and North Africa region is a growing force in aviation; over the last decade, the Middle East’s share of global international traffic has risen from about five per cent to about 11.5 per cent, Iata director-general and chief executive officer Tony Tyler said.
“The rise of the Gulf carriers is an amazing story. They are leading Middle East traffic growth that is still in the double digits. And even if we look at the less-headline-grabbing carriers in North Africa, we are seeing a healthy demand performance,” said Tyler, while addressing the Arab Air Carriers Organisation, or Aaco, Annual General Meeting in Algiers.
The Iata chief blasted the European Union for pursuing the “unilateral and extra-territorial inclusion” of international aviation in its Emissions Trading Scheme.
“It is a roadblock instead of a stepping stone. States outside of Europe see this as a challenge to their sovereignty. This is dividing the world and recklessly risking a trade war,” Tyler said.
Outlining areas in which opportunities exist to further develop aviation in the Mena to benefit the region’s economies, Tyler said aviation should be a catalyst for growth.
“The Gulf area has prospered from big thinking on aviation. In the UAE, for example, a study by Oxford Economics recently concluded that aviation supports some 15 per cent of the gross domestic product, or GDP, and 14 per cent of total employment. Building on world-class infrastructure and business-friendly policies, the Gulf carriers are now extending their reach through alliances, equity stakes and innovative partnerships,” he said.
Tyler called for similar big thinking across North Africa to help spur economic development and GDP growth. “For example, why not move forward with developing a major North African hub?”
He observed that safety is a top priority and global standards such as the Iata Operational Safety Audit, or Iosa, are critical to achieving industry-levels of safety across Mena. “In the first ten months of 2012 there has not been a single Western-built jet hull loss in the Mena region. This is a great achievement,” said Tyler.
“However, if we look at all accidents the picture is different. The accident rate for non-Iosa carriers is trending at about three-and-a-half times worse than those on the registry. This is clear evidence that Iosa improves safety,” said Tyler.
He maintained that rowing traffic in the region must be matched with sufficient airspace capacity. “Mena must avoid the inefficiencies that we see in Europe. There is no room for complacency. In the Gulf, ATM delays are already nearing crisis levels,” he pointed out.
Evolving East-West traffic patterns are creating new challenges across the region, including North Africa, he said. Successfully handling this will require cooperation among states, he added.
Tyler pointed out that sustainability is a key priority for the global aviation industry. Aviation contributes about two per cent to global carbon emissions. He reiterated the industry’s commitments to manage and reduce its carbon emissions.
“No other industry has made tougher commitments to emissions reductions than aviation. We are making good progress toward our targets to improve fuel efficiency by 1.5 per cent annually to 2020, cap net emissions from 2020 with carbon-neutral growth, and cut net emissions in half by 2050 compared to 2005,” he said.
Source: http://www.khaleejtimes.com
The Middle East and North Africa region is a growing force in aviation; over the last decade, the Middle East’s share of global international traffic has risen from about five per cent to about 11.5 per cent, Iata director-general and chief executive officer Tony Tyler said.
“The rise of the Gulf carriers is an amazing story. They are leading Middle East traffic growth that is still in the double digits. And even if we look at the less-headline-grabbing carriers in North Africa, we are seeing a healthy demand performance,” said Tyler, while addressing the Arab Air Carriers Organisation, or Aaco, Annual General Meeting in Algiers.
The Iata chief blasted the European Union for pursuing the “unilateral and extra-territorial inclusion” of international aviation in its Emissions Trading Scheme.
“It is a roadblock instead of a stepping stone. States outside of Europe see this as a challenge to their sovereignty. This is dividing the world and recklessly risking a trade war,” Tyler said.
Outlining areas in which opportunities exist to further develop aviation in the Mena to benefit the region’s economies, Tyler said aviation should be a catalyst for growth.
“The Gulf area has prospered from big thinking on aviation. In the UAE, for example, a study by Oxford Economics recently concluded that aviation supports some 15 per cent of the gross domestic product, or GDP, and 14 per cent of total employment. Building on world-class infrastructure and business-friendly policies, the Gulf carriers are now extending their reach through alliances, equity stakes and innovative partnerships,” he said.
Tyler called for similar big thinking across North Africa to help spur economic development and GDP growth. “For example, why not move forward with developing a major North African hub?”
He observed that safety is a top priority and global standards such as the Iata Operational Safety Audit, or Iosa, are critical to achieving industry-levels of safety across Mena. “In the first ten months of 2012 there has not been a single Western-built jet hull loss in the Mena region. This is a great achievement,” said Tyler.
“However, if we look at all accidents the picture is different. The accident rate for non-Iosa carriers is trending at about three-and-a-half times worse than those on the registry. This is clear evidence that Iosa improves safety,” said Tyler.
He maintained that rowing traffic in the region must be matched with sufficient airspace capacity. “Mena must avoid the inefficiencies that we see in Europe. There is no room for complacency. In the Gulf, ATM delays are already nearing crisis levels,” he pointed out.
Evolving East-West traffic patterns are creating new challenges across the region, including North Africa, he said. Successfully handling this will require cooperation among states, he added.
Tyler pointed out that sustainability is a key priority for the global aviation industry. Aviation contributes about two per cent to global carbon emissions. He reiterated the industry’s commitments to manage and reduce its carbon emissions.
“No other industry has made tougher commitments to emissions reductions than aviation. We are making good progress toward our targets to improve fuel efficiency by 1.5 per cent annually to 2020, cap net emissions from 2020 with carbon-neutral growth, and cut net emissions in half by 2050 compared to 2005,” he said.
Source: http://www.khaleejtimes.com
IIT-Kanpur buys Cessna aircraft from United States
KANPUR: Seeking to
encourage research and development among students of Aerospace
Engineering Department, IIT Kanpur has bought a Cessna aircraft from US
worth Rs 2.5 crore.
"To encourage research, and facilitate them in their work this plane has been bought," said R K Sachan, acting Registrar, IIT Kanpur.
The aerospace department has two small planes in their flight lab but these were not enough for the students, he said.
"Cessna has a single engine and it can remain air-borne for around seven hours after fueling," said Sachan.
He was confident that by next month Cessna will be brought to the institute.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com
"To encourage research, and facilitate them in their work this plane has been bought," said R K Sachan, acting Registrar, IIT Kanpur.
The aerospace department has two small planes in their flight lab but these were not enough for the students, he said.
"Cessna has a single engine and it can remain air-borne for around seven hours after fueling," said Sachan.
He was confident that by next month Cessna will be brought to the institute.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com
Female passenger on Emirates A380 flight from Dubai to Amsterdam dies at Prague Airport
PRAGUE - An official
says a female passenger flying from Dubai to Amsterdam collapsed during
the flight and died after the plane made an emergency landing at
Prague's Vaclav Havel Airport.
Airport spokeswoman Eva Krejci says pilots of the Emirates Airbus A380 asked to land in Prague before noon on Friday.
Krejci says the woman who was not identified died despite the efforts of a rescue team.
She said the plane continued to Amsterdam Friday. No more details were available.
Airport spokeswoman Eva Krejci says pilots of the Emirates Airbus A380 asked to land in Prague before noon on Friday.
Krejci says the woman who was not identified died despite the efforts of a rescue team.
She said the plane continued to Amsterdam Friday. No more details were available.
Iran confirms firing at United States drone over Persian Gulf
TEHRAN – Iranian
Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said on Friday that an unidentified
aircraft entered the airspace over Iranian territorial waters in the
Persian Gulf region and was forced to escape after Iranian armed forces
took “smart and firm” action.
Vahidi made the remarks in response to the Pentagon which has said that Iranian fighters have fired at a U.S. drone over the Persian Gulf.
The Pentagon claimed on Thursday that Iranian warplanes fired at an unarmed U.S. drone in international airspace last week but did not hit the aircraft, according to Reuters.
According to the timeline provided by the Pentagon, two Iranian Sukhoi SU-25 aircraft intercepted the American drone on November 1 at about 4:50 a.m. EST (0850 GMT) as it conducted a routine, but classified, surveillance mission over Persian Gulf waters about 16 nautical miles off the Iranian coast.
Pentagon spokesman George Little said the aircraft fired multiple rounds at the Predator drone and followed it for at least several miles as it moved farther away from Iranian airspace.
International airspace begins after 12 nautical miles and Little claimed the drone at no point entered Iranian airspace.
Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Brigadier General Massoud Jazayeri also said on Friday that Iranian armed forces will deal with any aircraft that enters the country’s airspace.
Jazayeri said, “The defenders of the Islamic Republic of Iran will give a firm response to any act of aggression from air, land, and sea.”
http://www.tehrantimes.com
Vahidi made the remarks in response to the Pentagon which has said that Iranian fighters have fired at a U.S. drone over the Persian Gulf.
The Pentagon claimed on Thursday that Iranian warplanes fired at an unarmed U.S. drone in international airspace last week but did not hit the aircraft, according to Reuters.
According to the timeline provided by the Pentagon, two Iranian Sukhoi SU-25 aircraft intercepted the American drone on November 1 at about 4:50 a.m. EST (0850 GMT) as it conducted a routine, but classified, surveillance mission over Persian Gulf waters about 16 nautical miles off the Iranian coast.
Pentagon spokesman George Little said the aircraft fired multiple rounds at the Predator drone and followed it for at least several miles as it moved farther away from Iranian airspace.
International airspace begins after 12 nautical miles and Little claimed the drone at no point entered Iranian airspace.
Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Brigadier General Massoud Jazayeri also said on Friday that Iranian armed forces will deal with any aircraft that enters the country’s airspace.
Jazayeri said, “The defenders of the Islamic Republic of Iran will give a firm response to any act of aggression from air, land, and sea.”
http://www.tehrantimes.com
Dirgantara, Airbus Military to make new aircraft in Bandung, Indonesia
State-owned aircraft
maker PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PT DI) has signed a deal with Spain-based
Airbus Military to revise its proposed C212-400 aircraft to include
more seats and new equipment.
The aircraft, to be renamed the NC212, will be offered to both military and civilian customers and come equipped with new avionics and autopilot systems. The NC212 will have 28 passenger seats, up from the current 25.
“We will work together to manufacture and market the NC212 aircraft worldwide, offering modern, very competitive light military and civil aircraft that will result in strengthening the position of PT DI as a leading player in the Southeast Asia region,” PT DI president director Budi Santoso said on the sidelines of the signing ceremony on Thursday during the Indo Defence 2012 Expo & Forum at the JIExpo in Kemayoran, Jakarta.
“The aircraft will be manufactured in our facility in Bandung [West Java]. We are going to spend US$15 million to upgrade the facility to be able to create the new aircraft.”
The companies have had in place joint working teams at PT DI’s facilities in Bandung, including Airbus Military personnel deployed on-site, since October 2011.
Budi said that the firm would like to capture about 30 percent of the total potential market for the medium transport aircraft of 400 to 450 units over the next decade.
“We expect to start production of the new aircraft in the next 18 months, because we need to upgrade our facilities first. We plan to produce five to six aircraft a year,” he added.
Budi said that he was optimistic about grabbing a 30 percent market share since the company had received assistance from the Defense Ministry to promote its products to ASEAN member nations and could also take advantage of Airbus Military’s worldwide networks.
Also at the expo, Ignacio Alonso, Airbus Military’s senior vice president for commercial, strategy and industrial relations for Asia, said the collaboration would yield growth for both companies and that Airbus Military was committed to long-term cooperation with PT DI.
“This is the further proof of our increased cooperation with Indonesia. With the continued support of the Indonesian government, PT DI and Airbus Military will be able to achieve many great things together,” he said.
While the companies have yet to receive external NC212 orders, Alonso said that many customers have shown interest in the aircraft.
“That is why we launched it. We do not have a contract to sign but we have signed a Letter of Intent with different nations,” he added.
PT DI has secured a domestic contract worth Rp 8.2 trillion ($862.64 million) for the purchase of 40 airplanes and helicopters for the Indonesian Military (TNI) this year.
The contract, its largest-ever domestically, calls for nine CN-295 twin-turboprop tactical military transport aircraft and six EC-725 long-range tactical transport helicopters for the Air Force as well as 25 Bell-412EP utility helicopters for the Army.
Last year, PT DI delivered three Bell-412EPs to the Navy, four to the Army and two Eurocopter AS-332 Super Puma four-bladed, twin-engine, medium-size utility helicopters to the Air Force.
http://www.thejakartapost.com
The aircraft, to be renamed the NC212, will be offered to both military and civilian customers and come equipped with new avionics and autopilot systems. The NC212 will have 28 passenger seats, up from the current 25.
“We will work together to manufacture and market the NC212 aircraft worldwide, offering modern, very competitive light military and civil aircraft that will result in strengthening the position of PT DI as a leading player in the Southeast Asia region,” PT DI president director Budi Santoso said on the sidelines of the signing ceremony on Thursday during the Indo Defence 2012 Expo & Forum at the JIExpo in Kemayoran, Jakarta.
“The aircraft will be manufactured in our facility in Bandung [West Java]. We are going to spend US$15 million to upgrade the facility to be able to create the new aircraft.”
The companies have had in place joint working teams at PT DI’s facilities in Bandung, including Airbus Military personnel deployed on-site, since October 2011.
Budi said that the firm would like to capture about 30 percent of the total potential market for the medium transport aircraft of 400 to 450 units over the next decade.
“We expect to start production of the new aircraft in the next 18 months, because we need to upgrade our facilities first. We plan to produce five to six aircraft a year,” he added.
Budi said that he was optimistic about grabbing a 30 percent market share since the company had received assistance from the Defense Ministry to promote its products to ASEAN member nations and could also take advantage of Airbus Military’s worldwide networks.
Also at the expo, Ignacio Alonso, Airbus Military’s senior vice president for commercial, strategy and industrial relations for Asia, said the collaboration would yield growth for both companies and that Airbus Military was committed to long-term cooperation with PT DI.
“This is the further proof of our increased cooperation with Indonesia. With the continued support of the Indonesian government, PT DI and Airbus Military will be able to achieve many great things together,” he said.
While the companies have yet to receive external NC212 orders, Alonso said that many customers have shown interest in the aircraft.
“That is why we launched it. We do not have a contract to sign but we have signed a Letter of Intent with different nations,” he added.
PT DI has secured a domestic contract worth Rp 8.2 trillion ($862.64 million) for the purchase of 40 airplanes and helicopters for the Indonesian Military (TNI) this year.
The contract, its largest-ever domestically, calls for nine CN-295 twin-turboprop tactical military transport aircraft and six EC-725 long-range tactical transport helicopters for the Air Force as well as 25 Bell-412EP utility helicopters for the Army.
Last year, PT DI delivered three Bell-412EPs to the Navy, four to the Army and two Eurocopter AS-332 Super Puma four-bladed, twin-engine, medium-size utility helicopters to the Air Force.
http://www.thejakartapost.com
New Zealand: Airport fees worry Nelson air services
Air service providers
in Nelson are concerned about hikes to landing fees at Wellington
International Airport, introduced in April, which could put people's
commuting lifestyles at risk.
The airport's landing and terminal charges are up more than 12 percent in the September half-year to more than $30 million, compared with the same period last year.
Earlier this month the Commerce Commission published a report into landing charges, concluding that the current light-touch regulations were allowing Wellington Airport to "extract excessive profits".
The commission said the airport's profit targets between 2013 and 2017 amounted to overcharging of at least $21m, and up to $39m, after the airport opted not to use the commission's formula for calculating charges.
In financial results for the September half-year, out today, the airport's total revenues were up 8.1 per cent to $51.4m.
Sounds Air managing director Andrew Crawford told Radio NZ the changes would force his company's costs to go up 169 percent over the next five years.
A "peak charge" aimed at busy times, primarily driven by people commuting, was of particular concern.
"They're trying to get rid of small aircraft in the peak times, but we don't want to change our schedule. A lot of the passengers want to fly at that time," he said.
Golden Bay Air chief executive Richard Molloy said current landing fees were at a fixed charge of about $3.80 per passenger, which would ramp up to about $30 per passenger by 2016.
Mr Molloy said if Golden Bay Air added those charges on to its ticket prices, then it would "become unpalatable to our passengers" and put the service - and people's commuting lifestyles - at risk.
The airport said strong growth in the international market saw passenger numbers up 4.2 percent.
http://www.stuff.co.nz
The airport's landing and terminal charges are up more than 12 percent in the September half-year to more than $30 million, compared with the same period last year.
Earlier this month the Commerce Commission published a report into landing charges, concluding that the current light-touch regulations were allowing Wellington Airport to "extract excessive profits".
The commission said the airport's profit targets between 2013 and 2017 amounted to overcharging of at least $21m, and up to $39m, after the airport opted not to use the commission's formula for calculating charges.
In financial results for the September half-year, out today, the airport's total revenues were up 8.1 per cent to $51.4m.
Sounds Air managing director Andrew Crawford told Radio NZ the changes would force his company's costs to go up 169 percent over the next five years.
A "peak charge" aimed at busy times, primarily driven by people commuting, was of particular concern.
"They're trying to get rid of small aircraft in the peak times, but we don't want to change our schedule. A lot of the passengers want to fly at that time," he said.
Golden Bay Air chief executive Richard Molloy said current landing fees were at a fixed charge of about $3.80 per passenger, which would ramp up to about $30 per passenger by 2016.
Mr Molloy said if Golden Bay Air added those charges on to its ticket prices, then it would "become unpalatable to our passengers" and put the service - and people's commuting lifestyles - at risk.
The airport said strong growth in the international market saw passenger numbers up 4.2 percent.
http://www.stuff.co.nz
Nigeria: Before Another Plane Crash…
By Leke Alder
A few weeks ago, one of the better-known airlines in the country turned back its passenger plane to take-off point because of a technical glitch in midair. It was travelling from Lagos to Abuja. The week before that incident, the same airline disembarked passengers after a 30minute delay on the tarmac. The engines failed. Yet this is one of the most professionally managed airlines in the country.
We all know that all is not well with our aviation industry. The pain from the last air crash lingers on cancerously in our collective memories. There have been 26 crashes in Nigeria’s aviation history. The total number of souls lost, minus ground casualties, is 1,438 with 661 casualties recorded in the last twelve years alone. The first air disaster was the Nigeria Airways BAC VC10 crash on November 20, 1969. It killed 87 people. The last recorded commercial crash was the June 3, 2012 Dana Airlines Flight 9J 992. It killed 153 people. We have a 43 year history with death in our aviation industry.
Perhaps the most traumatic crash was the demise of an entire generation of school children in the Sosoliso Airlines crash of October 29, 2006. Some parents past childbearing age lost all their kids. When death prematurely visits a home, it leaves indelible prints in the hearts of the bereaved.
But the nation also suffers patriotic bereavement when the circumstances of a crash are preventable. The citizens lose faith in government ability.
To be sure, we NEED airlines in the country for pragmatic, economic, political and sociological reasons. Airlines facilitate the national vision. They aid the development and connectedness of communities. They open the disenfranchised to the marvels of the modern world and engender generational attainment. We need airlines because of the sheer impracticality of total reliance on road transport systems. Our airline industry must not collapse. It will be a tragedy of monumental proportions.
At this juncture, let me commend the efforts of the Ministry of Aviation in revamping the look and feel of some of our airports. Whatever our level of cynicism, it is a step in the right direction. We tend to underestimate the role of ambient aesthetics in our perspective on patriotism. How the average Emirati must feel about Dubai Airport! And surely the glowing, golden, scarlet and palm frond motifs on the tails of the forests of planes belonging to Emirates Airlines must inspire national pride. We need a national carrier, even if just for patriotic sentiments. The value of patriotism is unquantifiable.
Several suggestions have been put forward on how to improve the health of our aviation sector. I do not have a comprehensive grasp of all that has been suggested but one or two are clearly not feasible. A forced merger of airlines will not work. The idea of a forced merger is oft paralleled along the lines of the restructuring of the banking industry, but forced mergers have their problems. What you don’t want in an airline corporation are boardroom wrangles. When there is no corporate cohesion on the board of a bank money is lost, but in an airline lives will be lost. When capitalized egos clash in the boardroom, Nigerians will suffer.
The factors afflicting our aviation industry are myriad. They include lack of access to inexpensive capital, poor corporate structures, poor management systems, weak board oversight, poor local infrastructure, sky-high cost of fleet maintenance, poor IT infrastructure, dollarization of maintenance costs against local currency earnings, a dearth of highly skilled professionals across the service spectrum, high cost of aviation fuel, poor regulatory oversight, corruption, lack of standards, insensitive customer service culture, poor market accountability, limited competitiveness, pygmy national will, the missing national aviation vision, poor disaster response systems and our negative attitudinal disposition to maintenance culture. Regulatory oversight alone will not solve the problems of the aviation sector. Neither will the throwing of money at our airlines. Poor management will fritter such resources away. We need a more strategic approach. Policy makers must sit down with regulatory experts, finance professionals, airline infrastructure consultants, business consultants of different hues, IT professionals, security experts, civil society and consumer advocacy groups. Without an aggregation of brains and expertise we will never have an end-to-end solution. A holistic and all-encompassing blueprint must be developed and an execution framework mapped out. Aviation works for the good of a nation when the framework is end-to-end: from policy to infrastructure to financing to management to security to consumer experience.
A minimum level of capitalization must be required of airline corporations. The threshold must be high enough to prevent ego-driven charlatans, whilst the structure must prevent over-leveraged corporate promoters.
Ideas have been flown about the financing of younger fleet for our airlines. Paying leasing corporations directly instead of giving cash directly to the airlines to purchase aircraft will address the issue of corporate malfeasance; it will not solve the problem of cost of capital. And we need to sort out the maths. Net taxes, operating costs, landing fees, personnel cost, cost of capital, maintenance, cost of fuel, do our airlines have enough income to operate? Can their cash flow profiles support loans for the acquisition of younger fleet? Our pricing regime convolutes issues.
Since it’s not market driven we have to be mindful of the consequences of such populism. One, our airlines can only be successful when they have a very significant number of planes. They must have economies of scale to succeed. Two, the market must be large enough to sustain such economies of scale. Three, all our airlines are effectively budget airlines. Four, the cost of operations must become lower and taxes reduced to create more margins.
The reality of our operating environment is that the benefit to the consumer can only be sustained through market forces. There must be a sizable number of serious players to create competition, or else we’re going to end up with an oligopoly. Because of the high cost of entry into the aviation market it’s going to be difficult to get that many players who are well resourced. As it is, only the Federal Government has the wherewithal to set up an airline with 70 planes or more. Therefore, we need a national carrier to create aviation markets, foster competiveness, close gaps of development, develop local economies and bring succor to the millions who are forced to use the road transport network with its over-burdensomeness and attendant carnage.
The primary purpose of a national carrier is not profitability (though it must be run efficiently and profitably). It serves strategic intents. But a national carrier will not succeed in Nigeria without a concrete wall of partition between management and government. Political interference kills business ventures.
The point being made is that we need to go further to develop our aviation industry. It’s not just the newness of fleet that will prevent disaster though it will certainly help, the quantity of planes and the quantity of effective competitors matter. So does the size of the market.
We are underinvested in aviation as a nation. We need maintenance hangars for at least mid-level servicing needs. The cost of maintenance is killing our airlines. Our training facilities tend to be focused on pilot and airspace management training. We need more than these though we need an upgrade of existing pilot training facilities. We also need a comprehensive School of Aviation Management.
As against throwing money at airlines why don’t we set up an Aviation Leasing Corporation to reduce the cost of capital for our airlines and serve as middleman between international finance and the airline industry? If we want to fix our aviation industry we must think about institutions and take a long term view. Bulk buying of planes drives down unit cost. The cost of operations of this corporation must initially be guaranteed by the federal government in order to rescue our local airlines. As the corporation grows however the profit from its international operations can then be used to subsidize our local airline industry. The aviation leasing company can also cushion the attendant higher cost of accessing international finance occasioned by Nigeria’s image problem. This leasing company must be international in scope and professionally managed.
There is also the need to tackle corruption at various levels of our aviation industry but our biggest challenge remains the need to articulate an aeronautical vision that feeds into, and delivers on the national vision. It is not exactly clear what we want to be as a nation, or what interests our airlines should serve. Aviation is not an orphan industry. Neither is it ever just about transportation. We know what the airline industry means to the Kingdom of England.
Think BA. We see what role it plays in the overall economic and political strategy of the UAE. We see the Singaporean model. Airlines are inextricably linked to national vision. What do we want to be as a nation? What is the strategic hub of our economic vision? How can our aviation industry serve this vision? Without this I am afraid, we shall continue to lust after palliatives and resort to short-term measures.
Leke Alder is a brand strategy consultant. He served on the board of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.
http://www.thisdaylive.com
A few weeks ago, one of the better-known airlines in the country turned back its passenger plane to take-off point because of a technical glitch in midair. It was travelling from Lagos to Abuja. The week before that incident, the same airline disembarked passengers after a 30minute delay on the tarmac. The engines failed. Yet this is one of the most professionally managed airlines in the country.
We all know that all is not well with our aviation industry. The pain from the last air crash lingers on cancerously in our collective memories. There have been 26 crashes in Nigeria’s aviation history. The total number of souls lost, minus ground casualties, is 1,438 with 661 casualties recorded in the last twelve years alone. The first air disaster was the Nigeria Airways BAC VC10 crash on November 20, 1969. It killed 87 people. The last recorded commercial crash was the June 3, 2012 Dana Airlines Flight 9J 992. It killed 153 people. We have a 43 year history with death in our aviation industry.
Perhaps the most traumatic crash was the demise of an entire generation of school children in the Sosoliso Airlines crash of October 29, 2006. Some parents past childbearing age lost all their kids. When death prematurely visits a home, it leaves indelible prints in the hearts of the bereaved.
But the nation also suffers patriotic bereavement when the circumstances of a crash are preventable. The citizens lose faith in government ability.
To be sure, we NEED airlines in the country for pragmatic, economic, political and sociological reasons. Airlines facilitate the national vision. They aid the development and connectedness of communities. They open the disenfranchised to the marvels of the modern world and engender generational attainment. We need airlines because of the sheer impracticality of total reliance on road transport systems. Our airline industry must not collapse. It will be a tragedy of monumental proportions.
At this juncture, let me commend the efforts of the Ministry of Aviation in revamping the look and feel of some of our airports. Whatever our level of cynicism, it is a step in the right direction. We tend to underestimate the role of ambient aesthetics in our perspective on patriotism. How the average Emirati must feel about Dubai Airport! And surely the glowing, golden, scarlet and palm frond motifs on the tails of the forests of planes belonging to Emirates Airlines must inspire national pride. We need a national carrier, even if just for patriotic sentiments. The value of patriotism is unquantifiable.
Several suggestions have been put forward on how to improve the health of our aviation sector. I do not have a comprehensive grasp of all that has been suggested but one or two are clearly not feasible. A forced merger of airlines will not work. The idea of a forced merger is oft paralleled along the lines of the restructuring of the banking industry, but forced mergers have their problems. What you don’t want in an airline corporation are boardroom wrangles. When there is no corporate cohesion on the board of a bank money is lost, but in an airline lives will be lost. When capitalized egos clash in the boardroom, Nigerians will suffer.
The factors afflicting our aviation industry are myriad. They include lack of access to inexpensive capital, poor corporate structures, poor management systems, weak board oversight, poor local infrastructure, sky-high cost of fleet maintenance, poor IT infrastructure, dollarization of maintenance costs against local currency earnings, a dearth of highly skilled professionals across the service spectrum, high cost of aviation fuel, poor regulatory oversight, corruption, lack of standards, insensitive customer service culture, poor market accountability, limited competitiveness, pygmy national will, the missing national aviation vision, poor disaster response systems and our negative attitudinal disposition to maintenance culture. Regulatory oversight alone will not solve the problems of the aviation sector. Neither will the throwing of money at our airlines. Poor management will fritter such resources away. We need a more strategic approach. Policy makers must sit down with regulatory experts, finance professionals, airline infrastructure consultants, business consultants of different hues, IT professionals, security experts, civil society and consumer advocacy groups. Without an aggregation of brains and expertise we will never have an end-to-end solution. A holistic and all-encompassing blueprint must be developed and an execution framework mapped out. Aviation works for the good of a nation when the framework is end-to-end: from policy to infrastructure to financing to management to security to consumer experience.
A minimum level of capitalization must be required of airline corporations. The threshold must be high enough to prevent ego-driven charlatans, whilst the structure must prevent over-leveraged corporate promoters.
Ideas have been flown about the financing of younger fleet for our airlines. Paying leasing corporations directly instead of giving cash directly to the airlines to purchase aircraft will address the issue of corporate malfeasance; it will not solve the problem of cost of capital. And we need to sort out the maths. Net taxes, operating costs, landing fees, personnel cost, cost of capital, maintenance, cost of fuel, do our airlines have enough income to operate? Can their cash flow profiles support loans for the acquisition of younger fleet? Our pricing regime convolutes issues.
Since it’s not market driven we have to be mindful of the consequences of such populism. One, our airlines can only be successful when they have a very significant number of planes. They must have economies of scale to succeed. Two, the market must be large enough to sustain such economies of scale. Three, all our airlines are effectively budget airlines. Four, the cost of operations must become lower and taxes reduced to create more margins.
The reality of our operating environment is that the benefit to the consumer can only be sustained through market forces. There must be a sizable number of serious players to create competition, or else we’re going to end up with an oligopoly. Because of the high cost of entry into the aviation market it’s going to be difficult to get that many players who are well resourced. As it is, only the Federal Government has the wherewithal to set up an airline with 70 planes or more. Therefore, we need a national carrier to create aviation markets, foster competiveness, close gaps of development, develop local economies and bring succor to the millions who are forced to use the road transport network with its over-burdensomeness and attendant carnage.
The primary purpose of a national carrier is not profitability (though it must be run efficiently and profitably). It serves strategic intents. But a national carrier will not succeed in Nigeria without a concrete wall of partition between management and government. Political interference kills business ventures.
The point being made is that we need to go further to develop our aviation industry. It’s not just the newness of fleet that will prevent disaster though it will certainly help, the quantity of planes and the quantity of effective competitors matter. So does the size of the market.
We are underinvested in aviation as a nation. We need maintenance hangars for at least mid-level servicing needs. The cost of maintenance is killing our airlines. Our training facilities tend to be focused on pilot and airspace management training. We need more than these though we need an upgrade of existing pilot training facilities. We also need a comprehensive School of Aviation Management.
As against throwing money at airlines why don’t we set up an Aviation Leasing Corporation to reduce the cost of capital for our airlines and serve as middleman between international finance and the airline industry? If we want to fix our aviation industry we must think about institutions and take a long term view. Bulk buying of planes drives down unit cost. The cost of operations of this corporation must initially be guaranteed by the federal government in order to rescue our local airlines. As the corporation grows however the profit from its international operations can then be used to subsidize our local airline industry. The aviation leasing company can also cushion the attendant higher cost of accessing international finance occasioned by Nigeria’s image problem. This leasing company must be international in scope and professionally managed.
There is also the need to tackle corruption at various levels of our aviation industry but our biggest challenge remains the need to articulate an aeronautical vision that feeds into, and delivers on the national vision. It is not exactly clear what we want to be as a nation, or what interests our airlines should serve. Aviation is not an orphan industry. Neither is it ever just about transportation. We know what the airline industry means to the Kingdom of England.
Think BA. We see what role it plays in the overall economic and political strategy of the UAE. We see the Singaporean model. Airlines are inextricably linked to national vision. What do we want to be as a nation? What is the strategic hub of our economic vision? How can our aviation industry serve this vision? Without this I am afraid, we shall continue to lust after palliatives and resort to short-term measures.
Leke Alder is a brand strategy consultant. He served on the board of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.
http://www.thisdaylive.com
‘Manpower Development, Key To Improved Aviation’
Managing Director of
Mish Aviation, Ibrahim Mshelia has said that manpower development in the
aviation sector was one of the key factors to improving aviation in
Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
Mshelia made this known in his presentation/career talk,’ The Exciting World of Aviation’ to children of Olashore International School, Iloko, Osun state
According to the aviator who has had three decades in the industry, 63 per cent of captains flying today would be retired in the next five years, so massive training of core aviation manpower was needed in the country.
He said that for now, government was concentrating on upgrading the airports and other infrastructure and was doing extremely well and asked state governments to also take the bull by the horn and train at least 20 students from each state as it will go a long way to ameliorate the problem.
He explained that in Nigeria, the plum jobs of piloting and engineering was fast becoming the one for expatriates alone and said that the trend could be changed if children become more interested in aviation to want to delve into the field.
He further said the civil aviation involved manufacturing of aircraft and airline operations but in Africa there was no aircraft production which limits the field to airline operations, which he said was also lucrative.
Mshelia told the students that the professional fields they could enter in aviation included piloting, engineering, air traffic controlling and even becoming cabin executives.
These fields, he explained, opened a wide variation of opportunities to enthusiasts who want to go into the field.
http://www.osundefender.org
Mshelia made this known in his presentation/career talk,’ The Exciting World of Aviation’ to children of Olashore International School, Iloko, Osun state
According to the aviator who has had three decades in the industry, 63 per cent of captains flying today would be retired in the next five years, so massive training of core aviation manpower was needed in the country.
He said that for now, government was concentrating on upgrading the airports and other infrastructure and was doing extremely well and asked state governments to also take the bull by the horn and train at least 20 students from each state as it will go a long way to ameliorate the problem.
He explained that in Nigeria, the plum jobs of piloting and engineering was fast becoming the one for expatriates alone and said that the trend could be changed if children become more interested in aviation to want to delve into the field.
He further said the civil aviation involved manufacturing of aircraft and airline operations but in Africa there was no aircraft production which limits the field to airline operations, which he said was also lucrative.
Mshelia told the students that the professional fields they could enter in aviation included piloting, engineering, air traffic controlling and even becoming cabin executives.
These fields, he explained, opened a wide variation of opportunities to enthusiasts who want to go into the field.
http://www.osundefender.org
Bosnia to reinvestigate late Macedonian president's plane crash
SARAJEVO (Reuters) -
Bosnia will reinvestigate a plane crash that killed Macedonian President
Boris Trajkovski in 2004 because of new evidence in the case, a
government official said on Friday, after Macedonian media said there
were suspicions he had been assassinated.
Trajkovski and eight others were killed in the crash, which happened on the approach to an airport near the Bosnian town of Mostar. At the time, Bosnian investigators said pilot error was to blame.
Trajkovski is remembered as the man who brought peace to Macedonia when it was on the brink of an ethnic war in 2001. He and his entourage had been flying to Mostar for an economic conference.
Some local media had quoted a lawyer for Trajkovski's family as saying the plane had been brought down by a missile, an allegation for which the family had not previously been able to provide evidence.
Other reports questioned the role of SFOR, the NATO peacekeeping force which was in control of Mostar airport at the time, saying it had concealed evidence.
Omer Kulic, an official at Bosnia's Transport Ministry, said the ministry has decided to form an investigative commission by the end of the year to study new evidence that had been unearthed by Macedonian investigators.
"They have come to some new findings and facts that shed new light on the accident and we want to clarify them," Kulic told Reuters. "We have concluded that there are enough elements to start a new investigation."
He declined to speculate on the nature of the new evidence.
Experts from the United States, Germany, Serbia, Croatia, Macedonia and Bosnia would join the new investigative team, Kulic said.
http://www.cnbc.com
Trajkovski and eight others were killed in the crash, which happened on the approach to an airport near the Bosnian town of Mostar. At the time, Bosnian investigators said pilot error was to blame.
Trajkovski is remembered as the man who brought peace to Macedonia when it was on the brink of an ethnic war in 2001. He and his entourage had been flying to Mostar for an economic conference.
Some local media had quoted a lawyer for Trajkovski's family as saying the plane had been brought down by a missile, an allegation for which the family had not previously been able to provide evidence.
Other reports questioned the role of SFOR, the NATO peacekeeping force which was in control of Mostar airport at the time, saying it had concealed evidence.
Omer Kulic, an official at Bosnia's Transport Ministry, said the ministry has decided to form an investigative commission by the end of the year to study new evidence that had been unearthed by Macedonian investigators.
"They have come to some new findings and facts that shed new light on the accident and we want to clarify them," Kulic told Reuters. "We have concluded that there are enough elements to start a new investigation."
He declined to speculate on the nature of the new evidence.
Experts from the United States, Germany, Serbia, Croatia, Macedonia and Bosnia would join the new investigative team, Kulic said.
http://www.cnbc.com
November 8, 2012
Nigeria: Federal Government to install monitoring device in domestic aircraft
The Federal
Government is set retrofit all aircraft flying in the nation’s airspace
with a new device that will enable the authorities track abnormalities
in their performances whenever they are flying, the Director-General,
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Dr. Harold Demuren, has said.
The new equipment called, Automatic Flight Information Reporting System, will enable the NCAA record and monitor abnormalities encountered by airplanes during flights from a remote centre.
Demuren, who made the disclosure at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos on Thursday during the inaugural flight ceremony of a new domestic carrier, MedView Airlines, said the new device would serve as a backup in the event of loss of data contained in aircraft’s black boxes.
The plan came on the heels of the loss of data contained in the black box of the Dana Air plane that crashed in Iju area of Lagos on June 3, 2012, killing 163 people. The data loss has adversely affected investigation into the cause of the dual engine failure experienced by the ill-fated Dana flight.
According to the NCAA boss, the regulatory agency will make the installation of the new device in aircraft a compulsory requirement for all domestic airlines, adding that it would be included in carriers’ minimum equipment list.
He said, “The new device will record everything that happens to an aircraft during flight. If there is engine failure, it will record it; if there is excessive temperature, it will record it. If there is excessive vibration, it will record it.
“All airlines will be required to fix this on board their aircraft. The control centre will be at the NCAA, where we will be seeing everything. This is a good development in our airspace.”
Demuren said Medview was issued an Air Operators Certificate after demonstrating acceptable safety standards to the regulatory agency, and wished the management of the airline “zero accident and zero fatality.”
Speaking at the ceremony, the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akinolu, said the coming of the new carrier into the scheduled domestic airline business could not have come at a better time.
He, however, called on the government to begin the process of offering soft loans to domestic airlines to enable them buy more airplanes and float formidable carriers.
The Managing Director, MedView, Mr. Muneer Bankole, said the carrier was committed to maintaining high safety standards in all its operations.
He said the airline would take delivery of more airplanes in the months ahead.
The event was witnessed by several dignitaries from within and outside the aviation sector.
http://www.osundefender.org
The new equipment called, Automatic Flight Information Reporting System, will enable the NCAA record and monitor abnormalities encountered by airplanes during flights from a remote centre.
Demuren, who made the disclosure at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos on Thursday during the inaugural flight ceremony of a new domestic carrier, MedView Airlines, said the new device would serve as a backup in the event of loss of data contained in aircraft’s black boxes.
The plan came on the heels of the loss of data contained in the black box of the Dana Air plane that crashed in Iju area of Lagos on June 3, 2012, killing 163 people. The data loss has adversely affected investigation into the cause of the dual engine failure experienced by the ill-fated Dana flight.
According to the NCAA boss, the regulatory agency will make the installation of the new device in aircraft a compulsory requirement for all domestic airlines, adding that it would be included in carriers’ minimum equipment list.
He said, “The new device will record everything that happens to an aircraft during flight. If there is engine failure, it will record it; if there is excessive temperature, it will record it. If there is excessive vibration, it will record it.
“All airlines will be required to fix this on board their aircraft. The control centre will be at the NCAA, where we will be seeing everything. This is a good development in our airspace.”
Demuren said Medview was issued an Air Operators Certificate after demonstrating acceptable safety standards to the regulatory agency, and wished the management of the airline “zero accident and zero fatality.”
Speaking at the ceremony, the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akinolu, said the coming of the new carrier into the scheduled domestic airline business could not have come at a better time.
He, however, called on the government to begin the process of offering soft loans to domestic airlines to enable them buy more airplanes and float formidable carriers.
The Managing Director, MedView, Mr. Muneer Bankole, said the carrier was committed to maintaining high safety standards in all its operations.
He said the airline would take delivery of more airplanes in the months ahead.
The event was witnessed by several dignitaries from within and outside the aviation sector.
http://www.osundefender.org
Don't let Kingfisher Airlines fly, Directorate General of Civil Aviation asked
NEW DELHI: Grounded
Kingfisher Airlines' (KFA) wings are getting increasingly clipped each
passing day, raising doubts over its ability to fly again. Now,
GVK-backed Mumbai International Airport(MIAL) asked DGCA not to allow
KFA to fly again till its clears its dues of Rs 23 crore. MIAL has also
sought de-recognition of KFA's seven planes parked in Mumbai.
This letter is bad news for KFA as aviation authorities are first going to speak to various agencies whom the airline owes money to seek their views of whether it can fly again. Unless the airline is able to substantially clear dues to all vendors, service providers and employees or convince them that it would do so with a plan, the DGCA is unlikely to revoke KFA licence suspension.
"Since last November, KFA has been flying in fits and starts. That can't be permitted. Unless they are able to maintain their schedule with full safety, there is no point letting it fly again," said sources.
The GMR-backed Delhi and Hyderabad airports have already taken KAF to court over dues. State-run AAI has done the same. "We have had enough of promises and plans. The airline management must cough up cash and securitize all dues. It should not expect other stakeholders to fund the airline's operations," said an airport operator.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This letter is bad news for KFA as aviation authorities are first going to speak to various agencies whom the airline owes money to seek their views of whether it can fly again. Unless the airline is able to substantially clear dues to all vendors, service providers and employees or convince them that it would do so with a plan, the DGCA is unlikely to revoke KFA licence suspension.
"Since last November, KFA has been flying in fits and starts. That can't be permitted. Unless they are able to maintain their schedule with full safety, there is no point letting it fly again," said sources.
The GMR-backed Delhi and Hyderabad airports have already taken KAF to court over dues. State-run AAI has done the same. "We have had enough of promises and plans. The airline management must cough up cash and securitize all dues. It should not expect other stakeholders to fund the airline's operations," said an airport operator.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Oba Akiolu Wants Federal Government To Grant Soft Loans To Airline Operators
Oba Rilwanu Akiolu I
of Lagos, on Thursday appealed to the Federal Government to grant soft
loans to airline operators, to enable them buy new aircraft.
Akiolu made the appeal at an event to commemorate the commencement of domestic commercial flights by Med-View Airline, at the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja.
The event came as the airline also had its inaugural flight from Lagos to Abuja and Port-harcourt.
According to Akiolu, traveling by air is the safest and fastest mode of transportation the world over.
"Many people would want to patronize it when they know the airlines have new aircraft.’’
He urged the government to assist the airlines to make this a reality.
Dr Harold Demuren, the Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), who also spoke at the event, added that the 'soft and low digit loans' being proposed for airline operators was for them to buy new aircraft.
"They are expected to pay the loans back to the banks through the automated revenue collection points.
"The banks would separate the deposit into aviation fuel money, parking and landing fees, and what would go to the aircraft manufacturers.
"Through that, both the operators and the country would be credit worthy,’’ he said.
Demuren commended the management of Med-View for their patience and professionalism in the last 18 months.
"During the period, Med-View obtained its Air Operation Certificate (AOC) and attained the 50 hours demonstration flight period without carrying any passengers as required by international regulating rules,’’ he said.
Demuren charged the airline to adhere strictly to NCAA regulations before, during, and after each flight.
He said that NCAA planned to certify more airlines as soon as they crossed the AOC hurdles.
"With the coming of Med-View, the traveling public will have more airlines to travel with-- alongside Arik, Aero and IRS,’’ he said.
Demuren told the gathering that NCAA was also planning to instal Automated Flight Information Reporting System (AFIRS) on board all aircraft in Nigeria, as obtained all over the world.
"With that facility, it would be easy to detect any snag on any aircraft, in case of accident or incident during flight or on ground, and would improve service being provided by airlines,’’ he said.
http://leadership.ng
Akiolu made the appeal at an event to commemorate the commencement of domestic commercial flights by Med-View Airline, at the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja.
The event came as the airline also had its inaugural flight from Lagos to Abuja and Port-harcourt.
According to Akiolu, traveling by air is the safest and fastest mode of transportation the world over.
"Many people would want to patronize it when they know the airlines have new aircraft.’’
He urged the government to assist the airlines to make this a reality.
Dr Harold Demuren, the Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), who also spoke at the event, added that the 'soft and low digit loans' being proposed for airline operators was for them to buy new aircraft.
"They are expected to pay the loans back to the banks through the automated revenue collection points.
"The banks would separate the deposit into aviation fuel money, parking and landing fees, and what would go to the aircraft manufacturers.
"Through that, both the operators and the country would be credit worthy,’’ he said.
Demuren commended the management of Med-View for their patience and professionalism in the last 18 months.
"During the period, Med-View obtained its Air Operation Certificate (AOC) and attained the 50 hours demonstration flight period without carrying any passengers as required by international regulating rules,’’ he said.
Demuren charged the airline to adhere strictly to NCAA regulations before, during, and after each flight.
He said that NCAA planned to certify more airlines as soon as they crossed the AOC hurdles.
"With the coming of Med-View, the traveling public will have more airlines to travel with-- alongside Arik, Aero and IRS,’’ he said.
Demuren told the gathering that NCAA was also planning to instal Automated Flight Information Reporting System (AFIRS) on board all aircraft in Nigeria, as obtained all over the world.
"With that facility, it would be easy to detect any snag on any aircraft, in case of accident or incident during flight or on ground, and would improve service being provided by airlines,’’ he said.
http://leadership.ng
Kenya: 'Less qualified’ pilots used to fly VIPs
The Commission of Inquiry probing the copter crash heard that “less qualified” police pilots were used for VIP transport.
Executive Director of the Kenya Association of Air Operators, Colonel Karumba Waithaka, said an audit report by a committee of experts on the Police Airwing showed pilots without the required qualifications undertook VIP flights.
Col Waithaka was the chairperson of the experts that handed over the report to the late minister in November last year. The report has not been made public.
“We found out pilots holding private license were assigned to fly VIPs, which is rather unusual in aviation practice. That license is the lowest in the field,” he said.
He explained that flying has categories of licenses beginning with the Private Pilot’s License, followed by the Commercial Pilot’s License, which is the second highest. The highest is the Airline Pilot Transport License.
The expert said less qualified pilots were also used in flying on remote and dangerous missions.
In response to questions from lawyer Fredrick Ngatia, for the late Prof George Saitoti’s family, the expert said the Airwing should develop a clear policy on transporting VIPs by assigning the most qualified pilots.
Grounded aircraft
Waithaka added safety systems at the Airwing as well as maintenance procedures needed to be improved urgently.
The Airwing has many grounded aircraft, thanks to long procurement procedures within the Government to get spares. The report recommended the police be exempted from the official procurement regulations to enable them get spares directly from manufacturers.
“All their aircraft were uninsured and that was a major concern to us. We recommended that they be insured immediately,” he said.
“If the report is made public and implemented fully, it would make the Kenya Police Airwing a viable and safe entity,” he said.
The report finalized in April last year has since remained under wraps. Airwing Commandant Col Rodgers Mbithi lamented he has never received the report.
Waithaka also called on the Government to release all aircraft accident reports rather than sitting on them or releasing them after editing.
“The reports would help air operators trace how mistakes happened and prevent recurrence of the same. The move would boost aviation safety. It is not a matter of passing blame,” he said.
The report finalised in April last year has since remained under wraps. Airwing Commandant Col Rodgers Mbithi lamented he has never received the report.
Waithaka also called on the Government to release all aircraft accident reports rather than sitting on them or releasing them after editing.
“The reports would help air operators trace how mistakes happened and prevent recurrence of the same. The move would boost aviation safety. It is not a matter of passing blame,” he said.
http://www.standardmedia.co.ke
Executive Director of the Kenya Association of Air Operators, Colonel Karumba Waithaka, said an audit report by a committee of experts on the Police Airwing showed pilots without the required qualifications undertook VIP flights.
Col Waithaka was the chairperson of the experts that handed over the report to the late minister in November last year. The report has not been made public.
“We found out pilots holding private license were assigned to fly VIPs, which is rather unusual in aviation practice. That license is the lowest in the field,” he said.
He explained that flying has categories of licenses beginning with the Private Pilot’s License, followed by the Commercial Pilot’s License, which is the second highest. The highest is the Airline Pilot Transport License.
The expert said less qualified pilots were also used in flying on remote and dangerous missions.
In response to questions from lawyer Fredrick Ngatia, for the late Prof George Saitoti’s family, the expert said the Airwing should develop a clear policy on transporting VIPs by assigning the most qualified pilots.
Grounded aircraft
Waithaka added safety systems at the Airwing as well as maintenance procedures needed to be improved urgently.
The Airwing has many grounded aircraft, thanks to long procurement procedures within the Government to get spares. The report recommended the police be exempted from the official procurement regulations to enable them get spares directly from manufacturers.
“All their aircraft were uninsured and that was a major concern to us. We recommended that they be insured immediately,” he said.
“If the report is made public and implemented fully, it would make the Kenya Police Airwing a viable and safe entity,” he said.
The report finalized in April last year has since remained under wraps. Airwing Commandant Col Rodgers Mbithi lamented he has never received the report.
Waithaka also called on the Government to release all aircraft accident reports rather than sitting on them or releasing them after editing.
“The reports would help air operators trace how mistakes happened and prevent recurrence of the same. The move would boost aviation safety. It is not a matter of passing blame,” he said.
The report finalised in April last year has since remained under wraps. Airwing Commandant Col Rodgers Mbithi lamented he has never received the report.
Waithaka also called on the Government to release all aircraft accident reports rather than sitting on them or releasing them after editing.
“The reports would help air operators trace how mistakes happened and prevent recurrence of the same. The move would boost aviation safety. It is not a matter of passing blame,” he said.
http://www.standardmedia.co.ke
Airports Company of SA blamed for 1time demise
Johannesburg - The Airports Company of SA (Acsa) was blamed on Thursday for low-cost airline 1time's demise.
1time was put under provisional liquidation by the North Gauteng High Court on Thursday after a failed attempt to rescue the business.
Business rescue allows companies in financial distress to be rehabilitated under supervision and subject to a court order.
"Acsa was only interested in recovering all its debts without considering the ripple effect this might have on the airline's operations," said 1Time's business rescue practitioner Gerhard Holtzhauzen.
Acsa was the airline's largest creditor, claiming R147m, and had an "overall negative attitude".
The company forced 1time to pay for current services in cash the day after service was rendered, and in advance over weekends and public holidays.
"The aforementioned payment terms constrained 1time's cash flow," Holtzhauzen said.
"To make matters worse the reconciliation done by Acsa set off payments received to historic debts, despite the historic claims being ring-fenced."
As a result, shareholders were reluctant to take up a rights issue in 1time Holdings, which would have boosted the struggling airline by about R80m.
A major international airline company had expressed interest in acquiring the airline. But the timing and transfer of the business, as well as its short term cash requirements, had caused it to back out.
In addition, 1time's old aircraft were not nearly as fuel efficient as more recent models.
With fuel costs constantly rising, this put additional strain on the business's profitability.
"In the early stages of the business rescue process, ticket sales were on an acceptable level to sustain the airline's daily operations," he said.
Later, ticket sales decreased, contributing to the loss of profitability and higher cost to keep the aircraft in the air.
Last Friday, 1time had an operating cash shortfall, which would have increased the following week.
"The impact decision to ground all aircraft and suspend the service with immediate effect was taken to ensure that 1time's safety would not be compromised," Holtzhauzen said.
As a result, minimal warning was given, and operations were shut at 15:00.
Provisional liquidators Hannes Muller and Aviwe Ndyamara, from Tshwane Trustess, would now take over from Holtzhauzen.
Provisional liquidators can recommend to the court the liquidation order be lifted and the company resuscitated, or that the airline be placed in final liquidation.
Story, reactions and comments: http://www.fin24.com
1time was put under provisional liquidation by the North Gauteng High Court on Thursday after a failed attempt to rescue the business.
Business rescue allows companies in financial distress to be rehabilitated under supervision and subject to a court order.
"Acsa was only interested in recovering all its debts without considering the ripple effect this might have on the airline's operations," said 1Time's business rescue practitioner Gerhard Holtzhauzen.
Acsa was the airline's largest creditor, claiming R147m, and had an "overall negative attitude".
The company forced 1time to pay for current services in cash the day after service was rendered, and in advance over weekends and public holidays.
"The aforementioned payment terms constrained 1time's cash flow," Holtzhauzen said.
"To make matters worse the reconciliation done by Acsa set off payments received to historic debts, despite the historic claims being ring-fenced."
As a result, shareholders were reluctant to take up a rights issue in 1time Holdings, which would have boosted the struggling airline by about R80m.
A major international airline company had expressed interest in acquiring the airline. But the timing and transfer of the business, as well as its short term cash requirements, had caused it to back out.
In addition, 1time's old aircraft were not nearly as fuel efficient as more recent models.
With fuel costs constantly rising, this put additional strain on the business's profitability.
"In the early stages of the business rescue process, ticket sales were on an acceptable level to sustain the airline's daily operations," he said.
Later, ticket sales decreased, contributing to the loss of profitability and higher cost to keep the aircraft in the air.
Last Friday, 1time had an operating cash shortfall, which would have increased the following week.
"The impact decision to ground all aircraft and suspend the service with immediate effect was taken to ensure that 1time's safety would not be compromised," Holtzhauzen said.
As a result, minimal warning was given, and operations were shut at 15:00.
Provisional liquidators Hannes Muller and Aviwe Ndyamara, from Tshwane Trustess, would now take over from Holtzhauzen.
Provisional liquidators can recommend to the court the liquidation order be lifted and the company resuscitated, or that the airline be placed in final liquidation.
Story, reactions and comments: http://www.fin24.com
Cabinet agrees to sell 10% stake in Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd
New Delhi: The cabinet agreed to sell a 10% stake in state-owned aircraft maker Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), a senior minister said on Thursday.
Science and technology minister, Jaipal Reddy, did not clarify on the timeline of the divestment or on the price the government expects to receive on the stake sale.
Government plans to sell stakes in 15 state-run firms by March 2013 and looks to raise Rs.30,000 crore from the sales to help plug a yawning gap in the fiscal budget.
http://www.livemint.com
Science and technology minister, Jaipal Reddy, did not clarify on the timeline of the divestment or on the price the government expects to receive on the stake sale.
Government plans to sell stakes in 15 state-run firms by March 2013 and looks to raise Rs.30,000 crore from the sales to help plug a yawning gap in the fiscal budget.
http://www.livemint.com
Sudan rebels say downed Antonov plane in oil state
(Reuters) - Rebels in Sudan's main oil state said on Thursday they had shot down a government Antonov military aircraft after it had bombed targets in the territory's Nuba mountains area.
Sudan's armed forces spokesman did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Insurgents from the Sudan People's Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N) said in an emailed statement they had downed the aircraft around 5 p.m. (1400 GMT) on Wednesday in South Kordofan state's Jau area, near the border with South Sudan.
It was not immediately possible to verify the claim. Sudan restricts journalists' access to South Kordofan, where fighting between rebels and government forces broke out shortly before South Sudan seceded last year.
"Before it was downed, it (the Antonov) carried out air strikes on various areas in the Nuba mountains," the SPLM-N statement said.
Rebels in South Kordofan fought alongside southern insurgents during decades of civil war fuelled by oil, ethnicity and religion. Their state was left inside Sudan when South Sudan declared independence under the 2005 peace deal that ended that conflict.
They say they are now fighting to protect their ethnic minority from persecution by Sudan's government. Khartoum accuses them of trying to sow chaos at South Sudan's behest.
Fighting in South Kordofan and Blue Nile, another state bordering South Sudan, has forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes since last year. Aid agencies have warned of a humanitarian crisis in the region as food stocks dwindle.
The violence has also complicated talks between Sudan and South Sudan over oil, border security, debt and other issues left over from partition.
The rebels said they had also killed 10 government soldiers and destroyed four gun-mounted Landcruisers in an ambush on Wednesday morning between the villages of Hajar-Jawad and Angarko in the northern part of the state.
The SPLM-N said one of its fighters was killed and another two wounded in the assault.
Sudan's 1983-2005 civil war killed an estimated 2 million people and devastated much of the country's south.
http://www.reuters.com
Sudan's armed forces spokesman did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Insurgents from the Sudan People's Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N) said in an emailed statement they had downed the aircraft around 5 p.m. (1400 GMT) on Wednesday in South Kordofan state's Jau area, near the border with South Sudan.
It was not immediately possible to verify the claim. Sudan restricts journalists' access to South Kordofan, where fighting between rebels and government forces broke out shortly before South Sudan seceded last year.
"Before it was downed, it (the Antonov) carried out air strikes on various areas in the Nuba mountains," the SPLM-N statement said.
Rebels in South Kordofan fought alongside southern insurgents during decades of civil war fuelled by oil, ethnicity and religion. Their state was left inside Sudan when South Sudan declared independence under the 2005 peace deal that ended that conflict.
They say they are now fighting to protect their ethnic minority from persecution by Sudan's government. Khartoum accuses them of trying to sow chaos at South Sudan's behest.
Fighting in South Kordofan and Blue Nile, another state bordering South Sudan, has forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes since last year. Aid agencies have warned of a humanitarian crisis in the region as food stocks dwindle.
The violence has also complicated talks between Sudan and South Sudan over oil, border security, debt and other issues left over from partition.
The rebels said they had also killed 10 government soldiers and destroyed four gun-mounted Landcruisers in an ambush on Wednesday morning between the villages of Hajar-Jawad and Angarko in the northern part of the state.
The SPLM-N said one of its fighters was killed and another two wounded in the assault.
Sudan's 1983-2005 civil war killed an estimated 2 million people and devastated much of the country's south.
http://www.reuters.com
Norwegian Air to launch long-haul business
OSLO, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Budget carrier Norwegian Air Shuttle will launch long-haul operations next year with flights to Bangkok and New York, taking on battered Nordic carrier SAS on yet another front.
Norwegian will start the new services from its bases in Oslo and Stockholm in the second quarter when it receives the first of eight Boeing 787 Dreamliners. One-way tickets to New York will start at 999 Norwegian crowns ($170).
It will also establish a base in Bangkok where it can operate at a much lower cost, the company said on Thursday.
Norwegian has been a rare success story in an industry struggling with high costs, expensive fuel and crippling legacy costs. It placed the biggest-ever aircraft order by a European airline this year with a deal for 222 planes worth $21.5 billion at list prices.
While Norwegian thrives - its fleet will grow 18 percent next year - rival SAS has been trying to come up with a restructuring plan to keep its creditors on board.
SAS, which has not made a full-year profit since 2007, aims to sell assets totaling around 3 billion Swedish crowns ($447 million).
http://www.reuters.com
Norwegian will start the new services from its bases in Oslo and Stockholm in the second quarter when it receives the first of eight Boeing 787 Dreamliners. One-way tickets to New York will start at 999 Norwegian crowns ($170).
It will also establish a base in Bangkok where it can operate at a much lower cost, the company said on Thursday.
Norwegian has been a rare success story in an industry struggling with high costs, expensive fuel and crippling legacy costs. It placed the biggest-ever aircraft order by a European airline this year with a deal for 222 planes worth $21.5 billion at list prices.
While Norwegian thrives - its fleet will grow 18 percent next year - rival SAS has been trying to come up with a restructuring plan to keep its creditors on board.
SAS, which has not made a full-year profit since 2007, aims to sell assets totaling around 3 billion Swedish crowns ($447 million).
http://www.reuters.com
Dana Air to acquire new aircraft, assures on safety
Dana Airlines has begin talks with aircraft manufacturers to renew its fleet of aircraft, but declined to state which aircraft type it would acquire.
The airline also assured Nigerians of safety, saying foreign auditors and Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, had subjected its existing aircraft to serious airworthiness scrutiny, preparatory to start of operations.
Dropping the hint yesterday, Head Commercial of Dana Airlines, Mr. Obi Mbanuzuo, who led a delegation of the airline on a courtesy visit to Vanguard, said the measure was to further boost public confidence in the airline, especially against the backdrop of public hysteria for old aircraft.
He said: “Our airplanes have been flying under the inspection of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, to check that everything is operationally ready and the aircraft are air worthy.
“We also have a lot of auditing by NCAA to look at our airplane. We also got foreign auditors involved to come and audit our airplanes, just to instill confidence.
“Very soon, our Air Operators Certificate, AOC, would be received, which will enable Dana Airlines commence operation.
“We are also looking at renewing our fleet with more modern and newer aircraft for operational reasons and not because our current fleet of aircraft are not safe for operations.”
http://www.vanguardngr.com
The airline also assured Nigerians of safety, saying foreign auditors and Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, had subjected its existing aircraft to serious airworthiness scrutiny, preparatory to start of operations.
Dropping the hint yesterday, Head Commercial of Dana Airlines, Mr. Obi Mbanuzuo, who led a delegation of the airline on a courtesy visit to Vanguard, said the measure was to further boost public confidence in the airline, especially against the backdrop of public hysteria for old aircraft.
He said: “Our airplanes have been flying under the inspection of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, to check that everything is operationally ready and the aircraft are air worthy.
“We also have a lot of auditing by NCAA to look at our airplane. We also got foreign auditors involved to come and audit our airplanes, just to instill confidence.
“Very soon, our Air Operators Certificate, AOC, would be received, which will enable Dana Airlines commence operation.
“We are also looking at renewing our fleet with more modern and newer aircraft for operational reasons and not because our current fleet of aircraft are not safe for operations.”
http://www.vanguardngr.com
Scare at Indira Gandhi International Airport, 4 aircraft in mix-up
New Delhi - An alert
Air Traffic Control (ATC) averted a major accident involving four
aircraft at the Indira Gandhi International Airport late on Monday
evening.
Officials said the pilot of a small aircraft misread the instructions of the ATC and moved towards Runway 28-10 around 7 pm.
At the time, a Jet Airways (Boeing 737) was on the runway awaiting instructions for take-off, another Jet Airways plane was in the air preparing for landing and a private aircraft was moving towards the taxi-way after landing.
After noticing the movement of private unscheduled aircraft, ATC alerted pilots of both Jet Airways aircraft — one was told to abort take-off and the other was asked to “go around as the runway was occupied”.
Director General of Civil Aviation Arun Mishra said it was a “minor incident”. “The situation was handled well, no inquiry has been set up in this regard,” Mishra told Newsline.
According to airport sources, the pilot of the private unscheduled aircraft with call sign VT-LTA entered Runway 28 by misreading an ATC instruction, which was meant for another plane with call-sign VT-CLA. ATC officials said the confusion was because of “similar sounding” call signs.
“When VT-CLA, a Cessna 560 of AR Airways, was asked to vacate runway on landing, the pilot of VT-LTA (a Hawker Beechcraft 900XP of L&T Aviation Services), which was crossing over to Terminal 1-D from Terminal-3, misread the instruction and got on the runway,” an ATC official said.
The Jet Airways Boeing 737 was ready for take-off to Doha, and another aircraft of the same airline was approaching from Chennai to land in Delhi, ATC sources said.
A senior ATC official said it as a case of runway incursion, a common phenomenon that is routinely handled by the ATC.
http://www.expressindia.com
Officials said the pilot of a small aircraft misread the instructions of the ATC and moved towards Runway 28-10 around 7 pm.
At the time, a Jet Airways (Boeing 737) was on the runway awaiting instructions for take-off, another Jet Airways plane was in the air preparing for landing and a private aircraft was moving towards the taxi-way after landing.
After noticing the movement of private unscheduled aircraft, ATC alerted pilots of both Jet Airways aircraft — one was told to abort take-off and the other was asked to “go around as the runway was occupied”.
Director General of Civil Aviation Arun Mishra said it was a “minor incident”. “The situation was handled well, no inquiry has been set up in this regard,” Mishra told Newsline.
According to airport sources, the pilot of the private unscheduled aircraft with call sign VT-LTA entered Runway 28 by misreading an ATC instruction, which was meant for another plane with call-sign VT-CLA. ATC officials said the confusion was because of “similar sounding” call signs.
“When VT-CLA, a Cessna 560 of AR Airways, was asked to vacate runway on landing, the pilot of VT-LTA (a Hawker Beechcraft 900XP of L&T Aviation Services), which was crossing over to Terminal 1-D from Terminal-3, misread the instruction and got on the runway,” an ATC official said.
The Jet Airways Boeing 737 was ready for take-off to Doha, and another aircraft of the same airline was approaching from Chennai to land in Delhi, ATC sources said.
A senior ATC official said it as a case of runway incursion, a common phenomenon that is routinely handled by the ATC.
http://www.expressindia.com
Outspoken Ryanair chief claims 'useless' seat belts on planes won't save lives and calls for standing room only on flights
Seat belts on airplanes are pointless and will not save passengers in a crash, the chief executive of Ryanair has claimed.
Michael O'Leary claims legislation forcing passengers to wear seat belts is unnecessary and wants to introduce 'standing room only' sections on flights.
'Seat belts don't matter,' O'Leary said.
'You don't need a seatbelt on the London Underground. You don't need a seatbelt on trains which are traveling at 120mph and if they crash you're all dead,' he added.
He told the Telegraph that the argument that seatbelts can stop injuries during turbulence doesn't apply as Europe doesn't have areas of excessive turbulence.
According to the newspaper, O'Leary's remarks came as he attempts to make low-cost 'standing room only' cabins a reality. He says he is being obstructed by aviation authorities, who he branded 'plonkers'.
He has suggested removing the back ten rows of seats in aircraft, allowing groups of less discerning travelers to commute to their destination on their feet for as little as £1.
He added: 'The problem with aviation is that for 50 years it's been populated by people who think it's a wondrous sexual experience... when it's really just a bus with wings.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk
Michael O'Leary claims legislation forcing passengers to wear seat belts is unnecessary and wants to introduce 'standing room only' sections on flights.
'Seat belts don't matter,' O'Leary said.
'You don't need a seatbelt on the London Underground. You don't need a seatbelt on trains which are traveling at 120mph and if they crash you're all dead,' he added.
He told the Telegraph that the argument that seatbelts can stop injuries during turbulence doesn't apply as Europe doesn't have areas of excessive turbulence.
According to the newspaper, O'Leary's remarks came as he attempts to make low-cost 'standing room only' cabins a reality. He says he is being obstructed by aviation authorities, who he branded 'plonkers'.
He has suggested removing the back ten rows of seats in aircraft, allowing groups of less discerning travelers to commute to their destination on their feet for as little as £1.
He added: 'The problem with aviation is that for 50 years it's been populated by people who think it's a wondrous sexual experience... when it's really just a bus with wings.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk
Airline SAS says made progress in survival plan
Nov 8 (Reuters) -
Airline SAS has made progress in talks with banks and on cutting costs
and selling assets, the company said on Thursday about efforts aimed at
ensuring its survival.
While negotiations are being finalized, the company said it would delay reporting its full third quarter results, which had been due on Thursday. A new announcement, including the results, would come no later than Nov. 12, it said.
"SAS has materially advanced these negotiations and the plan, and both are expected to be finalized within a few days," the Scandinavian airline said in a statement.
SAS has already published preliminary figures showing it made a pretax profit of 568 million crowns in the third quarter.
But SAS has not made a full-year profit since 2007 and has said its turn-around plan is expected yield approximately 3 billion crowns ($447.5 million) in earnings before tax. It also aims to sell assets totaling around 3 billion crowns.
A source told Reuters last week SAS is looking to sell its Ground Handling unit. Media have also reported the airline's frequent flyer scheme, Eurobonus, is up for sale.
Pilots at SAS's Norwegian unit Wideroe have said they would like to buy that airline if SAS is willing.
SAS announced at the end of last month it was in negotiations with creditors to extend financing and that it was planning sweeping changes to cut costs.
Other airlines are also in trouble, with Air France-KLM and Deutsche Lufthansa planning to shed jobs. British Airways and Iberia parent IAG are expected to set a new restructuring plan for Iberia.
But SAS also faces a hit from pension accounting changes, meaning a pension shortfall could effectively wipe out its shareholder equity when new rules come in November 2013.
Analysts believe the airline might have to raise more capital after share issues in both 2009 and 2010.
On Wednesday, sources told Reuters the Danish government was not discussing more cash for SAS. ($1 = 6.7040 Swedish crowns)
http://www.reuters.com
While negotiations are being finalized, the company said it would delay reporting its full third quarter results, which had been due on Thursday. A new announcement, including the results, would come no later than Nov. 12, it said.
"SAS has materially advanced these negotiations and the plan, and both are expected to be finalized within a few days," the Scandinavian airline said in a statement.
SAS has already published preliminary figures showing it made a pretax profit of 568 million crowns in the third quarter.
But SAS has not made a full-year profit since 2007 and has said its turn-around plan is expected yield approximately 3 billion crowns ($447.5 million) in earnings before tax. It also aims to sell assets totaling around 3 billion crowns.
A source told Reuters last week SAS is looking to sell its Ground Handling unit. Media have also reported the airline's frequent flyer scheme, Eurobonus, is up for sale.
Pilots at SAS's Norwegian unit Wideroe have said they would like to buy that airline if SAS is willing.
SAS announced at the end of last month it was in negotiations with creditors to extend financing and that it was planning sweeping changes to cut costs.
Other airlines are also in trouble, with Air France-KLM and Deutsche Lufthansa planning to shed jobs. British Airways and Iberia parent IAG are expected to set a new restructuring plan for Iberia.
But SAS also faces a hit from pension accounting changes, meaning a pension shortfall could effectively wipe out its shareholder equity when new rules come in November 2013.
Analysts believe the airline might have to raise more capital after share issues in both 2009 and 2010.
On Wednesday, sources told Reuters the Danish government was not discussing more cash for SAS. ($1 = 6.7040 Swedish crowns)
http://www.reuters.com
Mandela’s medical crew not in crash
Eastern Cape - The
South African National Defence Force has denied a report that the
aircraft that crashed at the Mthatha airport, in the Eastern Cape, was
transporting former president Nelson Mandela's medical personnel.
“This activity had no connection to the medical support that is normally rendered to the former president… The plane was not transporting medicine or his (Mandela's) doctors,” Brig-Gen Xolani Mabanga said on Thursday.
He said it was not yet clear how many people were on the plane when it crash-landed at the airport on Wednesday morning.
On Thursday, the DispatchOnline reported that 16 people, including pilots and doctors, were taken to hospital for medical check-ups after the SANDF military aircraft crash-landed.
Eastern Cape police said it was not clear what caused the crash, and that the aircraft had sustained some damage.
“The engine was damaged, as well as the right wing and propeller,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela.
He said an investigation would be conducted to determine the cause of the incident. - Sapa
“This activity had no connection to the medical support that is normally rendered to the former president… The plane was not transporting medicine or his (Mandela's) doctors,” Brig-Gen Xolani Mabanga said on Thursday.
He said it was not yet clear how many people were on the plane when it crash-landed at the airport on Wednesday morning.
On Thursday, the DispatchOnline reported that 16 people, including pilots and doctors, were taken to hospital for medical check-ups after the SANDF military aircraft crash-landed.
Eastern Cape police said it was not clear what caused the crash, and that the aircraft had sustained some damage.
“The engine was damaged, as well as the right wing and propeller,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela.
He said an investigation would be conducted to determine the cause of the incident. - Sapa
November 7, 2012
Man on flight to Delhi turns violent after woman complains
A Mumbai-based
passenger on board an IndiGo Airlines flight to Delhi allegedly turned
violent and assaulted passengers after an argument with a woman
co-traveller turned ugly on Wednesday. According to airline sources, the
altercation broke out when a woman passenger complained that Murshalin
Shiekh, 40, was staring at her reflection in the aircraft window.
When the airline crew addressed the complaint, Shiekh, a car dealer in Mumbai, allegedly turned violent, began screaming and even tried to manhandle her.
Confirming the incident, an airline spokesperson said, “The passenger got violent with other passengers on flight and tried to enter the cockpit. The airline crew made appropriate announcements and deployed security measure to block access to the front of the aircraft and the front galley was secured.”
Sources also claimed that the passenger began banging his head and there was a threat that he could attempt to open one of the aircraft doors.
The spokesperson added that the airline would lodge a first information report (FIR) with the local police in Delhi.
Meanwhile, the pilot in command informed security agencies at Delhi’s IGI airport to provide security deployment at the tarmac. Minutes after the flight landed, Shiekh was handed over to the police.
“We have taken the passenger in our custody. We will book him under a criminal offence based on a formal complaint from the airline,” said JS Deswal, deputy general of police, IGI airport.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) mooted a policy demanding severe punishment against unruly fliers in 2010, but the proposal is still pending with the civil aviation ministry.
According to the DGCA’s proposal. such offenders should be fined for Rs. 5 lakh and get a jail term up to one year. Currently, they are booked under bailable offence or let off with a fine of Rs. 1,200.
http://www.hindustantimes.com
When the airline crew addressed the complaint, Shiekh, a car dealer in Mumbai, allegedly turned violent, began screaming and even tried to manhandle her.
Confirming the incident, an airline spokesperson said, “The passenger got violent with other passengers on flight and tried to enter the cockpit. The airline crew made appropriate announcements and deployed security measure to block access to the front of the aircraft and the front galley was secured.”
Sources also claimed that the passenger began banging his head and there was a threat that he could attempt to open one of the aircraft doors.
The spokesperson added that the airline would lodge a first information report (FIR) with the local police in Delhi.
Meanwhile, the pilot in command informed security agencies at Delhi’s IGI airport to provide security deployment at the tarmac. Minutes after the flight landed, Shiekh was handed over to the police.
“We have taken the passenger in our custody. We will book him under a criminal offence based on a formal complaint from the airline,” said JS Deswal, deputy general of police, IGI airport.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) mooted a policy demanding severe punishment against unruly fliers in 2010, but the proposal is still pending with the civil aviation ministry.
According to the DGCA’s proposal. such offenders should be fined for Rs. 5 lakh and get a jail term up to one year. Currently, they are booked under bailable offence or let off with a fine of Rs. 1,200.
http://www.hindustantimes.com
Obituary: Verne Madison
Verne Charles Madison, 88, died Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012, in Fort Myers, Fla., after complications from heart surgery.
Services are pending.
Verne was born Dec. 22, 1923, in Connecticut and had a life full of love and happiness.
Verne was retired from Cal-Tex Citrus Juice Co., where his career took him from California to Houston and Columbia. He loved his toys! He was a twin engine instrument rated private pilot. For several years he and his wife Anne traveled the country by RV. The Lake of the Ozarks and Columbia were his homes before coming to Cape Coral, Fla. A boat was as important to him as his car, and he had several over the years. Most recently he traveled to the Bahamas twice on his boat with friends from Cape Coral Cruise Club.
Verne is survived by his children, George Madison and his wife Diana of Columbia, Chuck Madison, and Fran Rigell, both of Houston, Texas; grandchildren, Jamie Rigell and Debbie Ivey and her husband Rick; great-grandchildren, Blake Ivey, Kelley Ivey Sandlin and her husband Michael Sandlin; and soon-to-be-born great-great-grandson Nicholas James Sandlin. He is also survived by his wonderful friend, Rita Couch.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Anne Thomas Madison; mother, Greta Beaney of New York; father, Charles W.A. Madison of Los Angeles; and son-in-law James F. Rigell.
Source: http://www.columbiatribune.com
Cirrus SR22, N6839R: Accident occurred October 21, 2012 in Pahokee, Florida
NTSB Identification: ERA13LA048
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, October 21, 2012 in Pahokee, FL
Aircraft: CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR22, registration: N6839R
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On October 21, 2012, about 1530 eastern daylight time, a Cirrus SR22, N6839R, was substantially damaged during a ground fire while taxiing at Palm Beach County Glades Airport (PHK), Pahokee, Florida. The certificated private pilot and the passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flights.
According to the pilot, after refueling the airplane at PHK on a multi-leg flight from Indianapolis Metropolitan Airport, Indianapolis, Indiana (UMP) to Lantana Airport (LNA), Lantana, Florida, he began taxiing to the runway for departure. During the taxi, he felt that the brakes were “not working properly” and “dragging”, so he elected to return to the ramp in order to have the airplane inspected. After parking the airplane, and while he was shutting down the engine, a lineman approached and advised the pilot of the fire. The pilot and passenger subsequently egressed without injury and the fire was extinguished.
The airplane’s most recent annual inspection was completed about 3 weeks prior to the accident, and at that time the brake system was disassembled and inspected in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. According to the pilot, the brake system fluid and brake pads were changed.
Initial examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that both the left and right landing gear were fire damaged, and that the underside of the fuselage and both wings were substantially damaged.
According to FAA records, the pilot held a private pilot certificate, with a rating for airplane single-engine land. The pilot had 1,100 total flight hours of which 605 of those hours were in the accident aircraft.
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, October 21, 2012 in Pahokee, FL
Aircraft: CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR22, registration: N6839R
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On October 21, 2012, about 1530 eastern daylight time, a Cirrus SR22, N6839R, was substantially damaged during a ground fire while taxiing at Palm Beach County Glades Airport (PHK), Pahokee, Florida. The certificated private pilot and the passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flights.
According to the pilot, after refueling the airplane at PHK on a multi-leg flight from Indianapolis Metropolitan Airport, Indianapolis, Indiana (UMP) to Lantana Airport (LNA), Lantana, Florida, he began taxiing to the runway for departure. During the taxi, he felt that the brakes were “not working properly” and “dragging”, so he elected to return to the ramp in order to have the airplane inspected. After parking the airplane, and while he was shutting down the engine, a lineman approached and advised the pilot of the fire. The pilot and passenger subsequently egressed without injury and the fire was extinguished.
The airplane’s most recent annual inspection was completed about 3 weeks prior to the accident, and at that time the brake system was disassembled and inspected in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. According to the pilot, the brake system fluid and brake pads were changed.
Initial examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that both the left and right landing gear were fire damaged, and that the underside of the fuselage and both wings were substantially damaged.
According to FAA records, the pilot held a private pilot certificate, with a rating for airplane single-engine land. The pilot had 1,100 total flight hours of which 605 of those hours were in the accident aircraft.
Air Evac Lifeteam visits Houston County Career Academy
Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter.
The Houston County Career Academy Healthcare Science class got close-up and hands on with the Air Evac EMS Lifeteam. The Air Evac crew, including a pilot, flight nurse and flight paramedic, recently flew to the Career Academy from their base in Dublin.
Healthcare Science students got inside of the helicopter, looked at emergency medical equipment and discussed possible careers in Emergency Medicine with the Air Evac staff. Air Evac EMS is the largest independently owned and operated membership-supported air medical service in the United States, conducting its operations through 108 mutually-supporting air medical bases across 15 states. The company has established itself as the preeminent provider of air ambulance services to rural markets, serving over 1,700 diverse referral sources, including over 1,000 hospitals and 700 EMS agencies, and attracting more than one million members in support of its presence in their local communities.
Krista Lowe serves as the Houston County Career Academy Healthcare Science Technology Education Instructor. The Academy is located at 1311 Corder Road in Warner Robins. Sabrina Phelps serves as principal. For more information, contact Phelps at 478-322-3280.
Air Evac's Jackson helicopter crew celebrates more than 5,000 safe flights
The crew at Air Evac Lifeteam Base 7 in Jackson was presented with a special tail rotor to honor 5,000 safe flights completed. The base was established in Jackson in 1998.
TRACIE SIMER/The Jackson Sun
The pilots, flight nurses and paramedics who work at Tennessee’s first Air Evac station celebrated a major milestone today — more than 5,000 missions flown safely.
Stacey Wilson, the program director for Air Evac Lifeteam’s base, in Jackson said that is an impressive achievement.
“Maybe five to eight percent of bases have reached 5,000 flights,” he said. “The most impressive thing is ‘safely.’ We’ve done 5,000 ‘safely.’”
Air Evac EMS Inc., which operates Air Evac Lifeteam, is the largest independently owned and operated, membership-supported air medical service in the United States, according to the company’s website.
Wilson presented the crew with a special tail rotor that included the details of the crew’s flight record: “Jackson, Tennessee AE 7, Estb. July 1, 1998.” On the rotor is the motto “Semper Salus,” Latin for “Always Safe.”
The milestone was met in 2007. The recognition today was when the company made it official with the tail rotor, Wilson said.
“We’re probably way over 5,000 now,” he said. “But this is still a big accomplishment.”
Read more about this story in Thursday's Jackson Sun.
Hawker Beechcraft announces plans to close Little Rock facility
LITTLE ROCK, AR – Hawker Beechcraft announced plans to close their Little Rock facility in a letter issued to employees Wednesday.
Other locations being closed include the Mesa, Arizona and San Antonio, Texas facilities.
FOX16 will have more information on this story as it becomes available.
Other locations being closed include the Mesa, Arizona and San Antonio, Texas facilities.
FOX16 will have more information on this story as it becomes available.
Nigeria: More Than 1,000 Fire-Fighters Needed In Nation’s Airports
The President,
Nigerian Aviation Fire Safety Association (NAFSA), Mr Lewis Ojeifo, said
on Wednesday that 1,000 additional fire-fighters would be needed in all
the airports across the country.
Ojeifo said this while speaking with airport correspondents at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMA), Ikeja, Lagos.
He said that presently, only 800 firemen were manning the airports, saying that this might lead to fatigue.
`` We do not need anything less than 1,000 men to add to what we have now, and that is when we will say that we have enough hands to support those on ground, `` he said.
He commended Mr George UrIesi, Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), for providing 40 new fire trucks.
``When the rein of affairs in FAAN changed hands to the present boss, the whole thing changed and we have been collaborating and as of today, we have 40 brand new fire trucks in our airports for our operations, `` he said.
Ojeifo also commended the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, for her transformation agenda and for equipping airports across the country with new fire-trucks and training of fire personnel.
He assured that members of his association were combat ready in the case of any emergency in any of the airports across the country.
http://leadership.ng
Ojeifo said this while speaking with airport correspondents at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMA), Ikeja, Lagos.
He said that presently, only 800 firemen were manning the airports, saying that this might lead to fatigue.
`` We do not need anything less than 1,000 men to add to what we have now, and that is when we will say that we have enough hands to support those on ground, `` he said.
He commended Mr George UrIesi, Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), for providing 40 new fire trucks.
``When the rein of affairs in FAAN changed hands to the present boss, the whole thing changed and we have been collaborating and as of today, we have 40 brand new fire trucks in our airports for our operations, `` he said.
Ojeifo also commended the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, for her transformation agenda and for equipping airports across the country with new fire-trucks and training of fire personnel.
He assured that members of his association were combat ready in the case of any emergency in any of the airports across the country.
http://leadership.ng
Sky's the limit for new flight instructor: Flying Start Aero at Minden-Tahoe Airport (KMEV), Minden, Nevada
Flying Start Aero flight instructor Patrick Padilla and student pilot Mike Booher stand in front of a Cessna 172 at the Minden-Tahoe Airport on Friday.
Scott Neuffer
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
by Scott Neuffer, The Record Courier
Bridgeport resident Patrick Padilla can sum up his love of flying in one word — freedom.
“That whole three-dimensional feeling of going not only left and right, but up and down,” he said. “To me, worries seem to disappear when you take off.”
The 34-year-old is the newest flight instructor at Flying Start Aero at the Minden-Tahoe Airport. He had been a student at the flight school ever since deciding to get back in the air in 2008.
“I started flying when I was 22, and then, like everyone else, I quit halfway through,” he said. “About four years ago, I decided to get my private license. I flew a little bit, and then I couldn't get enough. I had a smile on my face every time I went up in the air.”
Padilla grew up in Bridgeport, where his father, Terry Padilla, retired as Mono County Undersheriff about a decade ago. His wife, Stephanie, grew up in Smith Valley. The couple has two children.
“My son is three and loves everything about airplanes,” he said. “Wait, I take that back. He loves everything about helicopters, which are a lot more expensive.”
Eight years ago, Padilla and his wife purchased Rhino's Bar and Grill in downtown Bridgeport.
“Having a restaurant in a small town is risky business,” he said. “Ultimately, my goal is to fly for commercial airlines.”
The family still owns and operates the restaurant, but Padilla has recently been commuting to Minden to work as a flight instructor.
In 2008, when he decided to return to the skies, he earned his private license in four months. He earned his commercial license shortly after that, and then worked with an instructor out of Stead to achieve his multiple-engine commercial aircraft license.
By the fall of 2011, Padilla had logged 250 flight hours. To put that number in perspective, the Federal Aviation Administration requires at least 40 hours for a private pilot license.
“I became a flight instructor at the end of September,” he said. “I now have just over 600 hours.”
Many of those hours were logged in Padilla's plane, a four-seat Piper Arrow that he owns with his father. They keep the aircraft in the only hangar at the landing strip in Bridgeport.
Once every few months, Padilla flies his family two and a half hours south to visit relatives in Oceanside, Calif. He's flown as far away as Salmon, Idaho.
“It's a neat way to travel,” he said. “It opens up so many avenues.”
Padilla currently has three students. He said there are three stages of instruction including both ground lessons and actual flying. First, logically, students must learn how to control an aircraft to the extent they can fly solo. Second, students must learn cross-country navigation. The third stage, without which there is no license, students must pass an FAA written exam and an oral and practical exam as well.
The timeline from beginner to licensed pilot varies with participation. Some students complete flight school in six weeks. Others, like Padilla, log time over the course of many years.
“Being an instructor is re-teaching me how to fly. It's interesting to see students struggling with something I've mastered, but then remember I struggled with the same thing,” he said. “Every student learns differently. It starts out the same way with five lessons that are identical. After that, it's more random, depending on the strengths and weaknesses of each student.”
On Friday, Padilla was on the tarmac checking up on Mike Booher, one of his students who happens to be chief of the Bridgeport Fire Protection District. Booher was preparing to solo a Cessna 172.
“I'm testing next week,” he said. “I've already passed the written exam. Hopefully, I do well.”
Flying Start Aero is a Cessna Flight Center, which means it offers a standardized pilot program using Cessna planes. A Redbird full-motion flight simulator in the company's upstairs office is used in conjunction with real flight time.
“Cessnas are easy to fly and safe,” states the company's website.
Gardnerville residents Keith and Rhonda Jorgenson purchased Flying Start Aero in January. The previous owner, John Brown, opened another school by the same name in Reno, and the two operations share resources and work together.
The Minden school currently enrolls a dozen students, part- and full-time, and employs two instructors, Padilla and Bill Schroeder.
“My husband is a pilot of both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft,” Rhonda Jorgenson said. “His passion is flying.”
Keith Jorgenson also works as an independent security contractor in Afghanistan.
“He'll be returning in the middle of 2013,” Rhonda Jorgenson said. “Myself, I like being a passenger. This is an expensive career and hobby. But once you're in, you're definitely hooked.”
As for Padilla's airline prospects, he said it's a tough industry. New FAA regulations will require commercial pilots to have 1,500 logged hours before flying the friendly skies.
“Especially to start, they pay you peanuts,” he said. “But who wouldn't want a couple thousand pounds of thrust under their hand?”
Whether he joins the airlines or stays put in Minden, Padilla is happy just flying.
“I love flying. I really do,” he said. “If being a flight instructor does it for me, then I'll be satisfied being a flight instructor and running a business in Bridgeport.”
Flying Start Aero is located at 1151 Airport Road in Minden.
http://www.recordcourier.com
http://www.flyingstartaero.com/
http://www.airnav.com/airport/KMEV
Zambia’s plans for national airline intensify
Zambia has intensified its push to re-establish a national airline to help boost the tourism industry in line with the new government’s plan to re-align tourism as one of the frontline economic sectors.
And London has opened discussions with prospecting investors who are proposing to lease out aircraft to Zambia for the establishment of a national carrier.
Deputy Minister of Tourism and Arts, David Phiri, who is leading the Zambian delegation at the 2012 World Tourism Market (WTM) in London, says it has become evidently clear that the country’s tourism sector will not get to its desired position without a national airline.
This is contained in a media statement issued by the Press Secretary to the Zambian High Commission in London, Amos Chanda.
“The question of connectivity is a central factor in the development of Zambia’s tourism sector. This can only come about where there is a viable national airline.
“There is consensus in both government and industry that Zambia needs a viable national airline and I know that President Sata is keen on this,’ Mr Phiri said.
The Deputy Minister said the PF administration has allocated unprecedented amounts of money to the tourism industry and provided generous tax incentives for the next five years for Zambians wishing to develop tourism infrastructure in national parks.
“What the new government has done is unprecedented in the history of our country and we are determined as a ministry not to fail the President in his bold and broad vision to rejuvenate this important sector of the economy,” he said.
Mr Phiri noted that the efforts to rejuvenate the tourism industry will bear much fruit once the problem of connectivity is resolved through the establishment of a national carrier.
The minister’s delegation includes the Permanet Secretary, Charity Mwansa, Zambia Tourism Board Managing Director, Felix Chaila and senior staff from the ministry.
The deputy minister was expected later this afternoon to host cocktail for tour operators and leading media outlets in London at the Zambia Stand at Excel Centre, UK premier exhibition arena.
The World Travel Market is a global networking exhibition staged annually in London as the leading Global Event for the travel industry providing a vibrant business event with a diverse range of destinations and industry sector to the UK and international travel professionals.
http://www.lusakatimes.com
And London has opened discussions with prospecting investors who are proposing to lease out aircraft to Zambia for the establishment of a national carrier.
Deputy Minister of Tourism and Arts, David Phiri, who is leading the Zambian delegation at the 2012 World Tourism Market (WTM) in London, says it has become evidently clear that the country’s tourism sector will not get to its desired position without a national airline.
This is contained in a media statement issued by the Press Secretary to the Zambian High Commission in London, Amos Chanda.
“The question of connectivity is a central factor in the development of Zambia’s tourism sector. This can only come about where there is a viable national airline.
“There is consensus in both government and industry that Zambia needs a viable national airline and I know that President Sata is keen on this,’ Mr Phiri said.
The Deputy Minister said the PF administration has allocated unprecedented amounts of money to the tourism industry and provided generous tax incentives for the next five years for Zambians wishing to develop tourism infrastructure in national parks.
“What the new government has done is unprecedented in the history of our country and we are determined as a ministry not to fail the President in his bold and broad vision to rejuvenate this important sector of the economy,” he said.
Mr Phiri noted that the efforts to rejuvenate the tourism industry will bear much fruit once the problem of connectivity is resolved through the establishment of a national carrier.
The minister’s delegation includes the Permanet Secretary, Charity Mwansa, Zambia Tourism Board Managing Director, Felix Chaila and senior staff from the ministry.
The deputy minister was expected later this afternoon to host cocktail for tour operators and leading media outlets in London at the Zambia Stand at Excel Centre, UK premier exhibition arena.
The World Travel Market is a global networking exhibition staged annually in London as the leading Global Event for the travel industry providing a vibrant business event with a diverse range of destinations and industry sector to the UK and international travel professionals.
http://www.lusakatimes.com
'US Airlines' Ticket Offers May Take Consumers Nowhere
Arkansas residents promised free airline tickets on "US Airlines" shouldn't start packing their bags just yet.
That's because US Airlines doesn't exist. And, the tickets offered, if they exist at all, are not free as promised by a direct mail offer that has landed in Arkansas consumers' mailboxes in recent weeks.
Attorney General Dustin McDaniel's Consumer Protection Division has received a large number of inquiries about this suspicious solicitation. So, today McDaniel issued this Consumer Alert to warn Arkansans not to share their sensitive personal and financial information in hopes of winning airline tickets, and to be wary of offers of free products that might end up costing them more than the product is worth.
The mailers receive by Arkansas consumers purport to be from US Airlines and state that the recipient has "qualified for an award of two roundtrip airline tickets." Though it has a similar name to US Airways, the supposed company is in no way affiliated with that or other major airlines.
The mailer states that consumers must call a toll-free number as soon as possible in order to claim their prize. If consumers call the number, they are asked schedule a "tour" of the company's local travel agency showroom, where they can pick up the promised free tickets. To get the tickets, the consumer must agree to be subjected to a sales pitch for the company's travel products and agree to pay undisclosed "taxes and fees" for the tickets. The "taxes and fees" can run to more than $100 per ticket.
The company is not local and does not have a showroom. It is a temporary setup operating out of a local hotel.
The Attorney General's Office has no reports thus far of Arkansas consumers falling for the scheme.
"We are encouraged by the fact that consumers see this clearly for what it is and refuse to believe that airline tickets await them from an airline that doesn't exist," McDaniel said. "Even if the company does provide ticket vouchers, any prize that requires a consumer to subject himself to a high-pressure sales promotion and pay taxes and 'fees' is anything but free."
As with any sweepstakes or contest, McDaniel reminded consumers to avoid disclosing their credit card or checking account numbers over the phone to callers who claim they are offering a prize. Also, be wary of sharing information without first knowing a contact number or address by which to request removal from a mailing list.
For more information, or to learn more ways to avoid scams, visit the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division website at www.GotYourBackArkansas.org.
Consumers who have received the solicitation from "US Airlines" are encouraged to call the Consumer Protection Division's hotline at (800) 482-8982 or (501) 682-2341.
http://arkansasmatters.com
That's because US Airlines doesn't exist. And, the tickets offered, if they exist at all, are not free as promised by a direct mail offer that has landed in Arkansas consumers' mailboxes in recent weeks.
Attorney General Dustin McDaniel's Consumer Protection Division has received a large number of inquiries about this suspicious solicitation. So, today McDaniel issued this Consumer Alert to warn Arkansans not to share their sensitive personal and financial information in hopes of winning airline tickets, and to be wary of offers of free products that might end up costing them more than the product is worth.
The mailers receive by Arkansas consumers purport to be from US Airlines and state that the recipient has "qualified for an award of two roundtrip airline tickets." Though it has a similar name to US Airways, the supposed company is in no way affiliated with that or other major airlines.
The mailer states that consumers must call a toll-free number as soon as possible in order to claim their prize. If consumers call the number, they are asked schedule a "tour" of the company's local travel agency showroom, where they can pick up the promised free tickets. To get the tickets, the consumer must agree to be subjected to a sales pitch for the company's travel products and agree to pay undisclosed "taxes and fees" for the tickets. The "taxes and fees" can run to more than $100 per ticket.
The company is not local and does not have a showroom. It is a temporary setup operating out of a local hotel.
The Attorney General's Office has no reports thus far of Arkansas consumers falling for the scheme.
"We are encouraged by the fact that consumers see this clearly for what it is and refuse to believe that airline tickets await them from an airline that doesn't exist," McDaniel said. "Even if the company does provide ticket vouchers, any prize that requires a consumer to subject himself to a high-pressure sales promotion and pay taxes and 'fees' is anything but free."
As with any sweepstakes or contest, McDaniel reminded consumers to avoid disclosing their credit card or checking account numbers over the phone to callers who claim they are offering a prize. Also, be wary of sharing information without first knowing a contact number or address by which to request removal from a mailing list.
For more information, or to learn more ways to avoid scams, visit the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division website at www.GotYourBackArkansas.org.
Consumers who have received the solicitation from "US Airlines" are encouraged to call the Consumer Protection Division's hotline at (800) 482-8982 or (501) 682-2341.
http://arkansasmatters.com
Aircraft emergency exercise to be held at Malta Airport
A full scale aircraft emergency exercise will be held next Monday evening at Malta Airport in collaboration with other entities.
In a statement Malta Airport explained that even though this is an exercise on a national scale the public should not be alarmed with any unusual movements or the presence of emergency vehicles. This exercise is aimed at assessing the level of preparedness of all entities involved and is being held according to strict standards stipulated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
MIA is urging the public to collaborate by not hindering emergency vehicles or in any way, obstruct the roads in the vicinity.
http://www.independent.com.mt
In a statement Malta Airport explained that even though this is an exercise on a national scale the public should not be alarmed with any unusual movements or the presence of emergency vehicles. This exercise is aimed at assessing the level of preparedness of all entities involved and is being held according to strict standards stipulated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
MIA is urging the public to collaborate by not hindering emergency vehicles or in any way, obstruct the roads in the vicinity.
http://www.independent.com.mt
Future Air Traffic Controllers Could Work In Virtual Towers Nowhere Near The Airport
Air traffic controllers have long worked far above the ground, in towers built to give them a clear view of the airport around them. Like so much of the aviation industry, that setup may fundamentally change, thanks to new technology.
Saab Sensis, an air defense and air traffic control corporation, wants to separate the controllers from the airports.
The Remote Tower premise is straightforward: Cameras and sensors relay images and information from the airport to an off-site controller in just .3 seconds.
It is cost-effective. Tall structures supporting offices and human beings are replaced by what look like water towers, loaded with cameras and sensors. A single controller could efficiently manage multiple small airports, reducing the need for personnel at each one.
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com
Saab Sensis, an air defense and air traffic control corporation, wants to separate the controllers from the airports.
The Remote Tower premise is straightforward: Cameras and sensors relay images and information from the airport to an off-site controller in just .3 seconds.
It is cost-effective. Tall structures supporting offices and human beings are replaced by what look like water towers, loaded with cameras and sensors. A single controller could efficiently manage multiple small airports, reducing the need for personnel at each one.
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com
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